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"We're here," Shuren states as he and the masked man move along the wide path to a historic looking building with unique architect. Their footsteps the only thing that disturb the silence.

The duo had teleported to the headquarters of the church's Anomaly slaying division using the connect reaper technique, Shuren was a former slayer so he could jump straight there.

The headquarters were situated in a privately owned area on the outskirts of Rome. A special ward was always active to prevent any regular civilians from entering as well as masking the base's existence.

"Why has no one tried to intercept us?" Shuren asks as he notices the void of life in the area. Normally specialist exorcists that worked under the slayers would have been onto them in seconds.

"That man from the beginning was planning on luring you out of the shadows and fighting you himself. He also has things he cannot allow his subordinates to know, so he evacuated them in advance," The masked man explains, "But that does not mean it is just us and him who are here."

At that moment several blue spectral figures hovered towards the duo, weapons of all kinds were in their hands.

"I never knew about these," Shuren states as he engulfs his own body in flames and unleashes several pillars of fire at his approaching adversaries. Most of the apparition like warriors dodged the attack but the ones that didn't were destroyed instantly without a trace.

"This ability, as I predicted that man does indeed possess the eighth Soul Slayer," The masked man says to himself as he creates numerous compressed combustion orbs combining the elements of fire and wind.

*Boom boom boom!* - The blasts ravage the semi transparent warriors, that again disperse without a trace.

"Eighth Soul Slayer? What are you saying? There should only be seven, Voynich-Caduceus, Gungnir-Mj÷lnir, Ley-Mistletoe, Muramasa-Masamune, Joyeuse-Longinus, Antioch-Artemis, and Fragarach-Kusanagi," Shuren rebukes, as he shoots his flames at an approaching, well built, spectral swordsman. However the swordsman slashed at the incinerating flames with the large broadsword that was on his back, dissipating the attack.

"What the?" Shuren was struck surprised as the swordsman charged at him and swung a heavy horizontal slash. Shuren jumped into the air to dodge and wings made of fire burnt out of his back keeping him airborne as he sends more pillars of fire at his attacker, who dodges again.

"It looks like the small fry have been beat. These two are different from the rest," The masked man states as he dodges a blade aiming for his throat. "As to be expected of Siegfried and Beowulf. Among all the Midgard Einherjar, these two are the strongest."

"Einherjar? Siegfried? Beowulf? You contain speaking nonsense."

"Calling forth Einherjar from the nine worlds of Norse is one of the powers granted to the wielder of the eighth Soul Slayer." The masked man supplements

"So there really is eight? I never thought he would have a trump card like this," Shuren states as he shoots his flames at Siegfried from above, the Einherjar however kicks off the ground and accelerates towards him whilst dodging the attacks, he swings his sword in a harsh trajectory. The sword slashes Shuren in half and both his upper and lower body fall to the ground. However flames then shoot out of his two body parts and then surround his entire body, the burning silhouette finally stands again as if nothing had happened.

"Just like a phoenix," The masked man states as he continues to fend off Beowulf's attacks.

"Correct, I can't be killed so easily. But this is going nowhere fast," Shuren states, "How am I suppose to avenge Nadia like this!" He spits out his frustration.

"Then you go on ahead, I have other issues to deal with now that I'm here. But I will handle these two as gratitude for bringing me here." The masked man offered.

"What are you up to?" Shuren interrogates as he dodges another attack.

"I told you before, you have no need to know. However, if you waste your energy here you will be no match for that man."

"Fine," Shuren gives up and changes his direction towards the base where his nemesis is likely to be. The pursuing Siegfried's sword is stopped dead by the masked man's blade of silver that he manifested. The power he received from his encounter with Yuichi Shiro. Shuren continues on and finally reaches the inside.

"Now I can complete my objective without delay," The masked man states as notices Shuren is out of sight. A huge black orb appears in front of his hand which he shoots towards the two undead heroes. The orb quickly expands and pulls them both within it as he releases more combustion orbs that are also pulled within the huge gravitational ball.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!* - The explosions further expand the dark orb, which soon dissipates without a trace along with the two heroes of old.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Shuren continues through the dark corridors taking turn after turn at the seemingly never ending labyrinth until finally reaching an open area where there is a man sitting on a chair that looks like a throne in the furthest shadows.

"To think that you were the one responsible for Enigma, I must say, I am surprised, Shuren," A cold voice echoes from the other end of the room as the silhouette leaves his seat and strides closer to the former Slayer.

"I never even knew there was an eighth Soul Slayer, so I guess this has been a surprising day for both of us," Shuren says as his eyes move towards the two blades that are attached together with a long golden chain. One of the blades was emitting a aura of pure white, whilst the other of pure black.

"Correct, this is the eighth and most powerful of all the Soul Slayers, 'Excalibur-Gleipnir-Ragnarok'. I kept this power hidden from everyone in case I ever needed it." The man states as the dark room suddenly lights up allowing the man's full profile to be seen.

He was a tall man with a strong build who looked to be in his mid forties, his scraggly unkept long dark hair and beard gave him the appearance of a barbarian and his piercing eyes gave him the visage of a monster in human form.

"However, even I didn't consider that man to come here. Luckily his objective doesn't appear to be my life, otherwise I doubt I would survive," The monstrous man says as he strides across the room, "But you are a different story, Shuren Azusa. In the name of the Slayers and on behalf of the church I shall remove your accursed existence from this world."

"Accursed existence?" Shuren glared angrily at the man who stood at the top of all other Slayers, his body engulfed in flames.

"Ha ha ha," Rasputin laughs as he raises the white blade of the two swords that make up his Soul Slayer. "I don't care for my hypocrisy. I consider my existence of the greatest of importance, yours however, I can live without!" As Rasputin swings his sword a white aura wave is shot towards Shuren.

"Haaah!" Shuren roars as he gathered condensed flames over his fist and punches the oncoming attack, dispersing it.

Several fireballs shoot out from Shuren's still extended fist, Rasputin swats every one aside with his two blades whilst releasing several bursts of white and black aura. Shuren knowing he couldn't dodge or deflect them all, charged straight through towards Rasputin using his flames as a propulsion to increase his speed.

"Guh!" The attacks assaulted Shuren's body as he cringes in pain, but the many cuts quickly regenerated. Shuren throws his flame charged fist at Rasputin, who stops it dead with his white blade. The two push on their respective weapons to try and gain ground to no avail. Shuren tries to lash out with his other fist only for it to be blocked by the black blade.

"That is quite the interesting ability you've got there," Rasputin states as he smiles gleefully, "You would make a perfect research specimen." Rasputin's blades slowly pushes Shuren back.

"Research specimen?" Shuren questions as he increases the strength in his legs to push back.

"In order to better harness my own abilities, I've been researching the soul fragments of both Human Anomalies and regular Soul Anomalies that the Slayers defeated. The fact that I have lived so long despite is thanks to my research." Rasputin further pushes as his smile widens, "If I can decipher your regeneration, even the concept of immortality won't end as a dream."

Shuren upon hearing the ridiculous statement releases a torrent of flames from his fists, Rasputin quickly jumps back and swings his black blade in a circular motion creating a black rift. "Einherjar Asgard!" He shouts as two spectres walk out of the dark rift.

Both spectres were muscular men, however one looked much older with a long beard and an eye patch covering one of his eyes, in his hand he held a gold coloured spear. The younger looking spectre wore nothing on its upper body that was covered with battle scars and was wielding a large gold coloured hammer.

The gold coloured weapons they both wielded reminded Shuren of the two segments that made up the Soul Slayer his deceased lover once held, Gungnir-Mj÷lnir.

"Odin and Thor?" Shuren questioned, Rasputin readily nodded.

"Two of the most battle orientated gods of Norse mythology," Rasputin adds, "It's time to extinguish your life."

Thor slams his hammer into the ground and a huge bolt of lightning crashed through the roof and headed straight for Shuren, who quickly surrounded himself with a pillar of flames that intercepted the attack. As Shuren's and Thor's attacks muscled against one another Odin charged at Shuren who was unable to move due to Thor's attack. His spear coated itself with lightning creating a lightning spear that extended several metres out of his weapon. The same ability of Gungnir-Mj÷lnir's spear segment.

Odin's vertical slash managed to pierce through and destroy the flame pillar, "URGHH!" Allowing Thor's attack to finally hit its target. Shuren quickly jumped out of the attack as the flames surround his body and restore him back to perfect condition.

"It seems despite your rejuvenation you still feel pain, especially when your soul is attacked," Rasputin chuckles to himself at this realisation. "Your very own power could easily become your own curse, Shuren." Shuren responds to this by shooting a pillar of fire out of his fist, however Odin intercepts the attack before it can hit Rasputin, who holds his arms out horizontally and closes his eyes.

"My soul is one of madness." Rasputin chants

"Demented, insane and psychotic."

"Forever hiding my lust and desires behind my calm."

"And my corruption infects the mind of all existence." A dark mist emanates from Rasputin's body. "Now lets end this little game," he smiles.

Thor slams his hammer down to the ground as another lightning bolt descends from the sky, Shuren jumps back into the air and dodges it, Odin's lightning spear tries to pierce through Shuren's body, who suddenly sprouts wings made of flames and flaps them to dodge the second attack and takes himself higher into the skies.

"You want an aerial battle?" Rasputin asks rhetorically as the dark mist gathers around his back and solidifies into his own pair of jet black wings and follows after Shuren. Odin and Thor, being spectres float into the sky as well.

Shuren shoots another burst of flames at his now airborne targets who each skilfully dodge the attacks. Odin shoots a stream of lightning from his spear, Shuren erects a wall of fire to fend off the attack whilst at the same time creating a several metre blade of fire around one of his hands. He swings his long weapon at his foes, as several other flame blades branch out from the original one attacking his enemies from multiple angles and directions. All three cease their attacks and dodge the many long fire blades. Shuren noticing the shift in momentum uses his other hand to use the same move again to create more fire blades. However Rasputin creates his own blades from his black mist and severed the original two blades along with all the branching blades dissipating into small embers then nothingness.

Odin and Thor quickly returned to the offensive as Thor summoned another lightning bolt and Odin shot a stream of lightning of his own. Shuren quickly accelerates and heats the surrounding atmosphere. Suddenly several images of Shuren appear in the sky. "Optical illusions created through heat," Rasputin analyses. The several attacks from the two Norse gods hit nothing but illusions that dispersed when attacked.

Then all of a sudden two holes pierced through the unsuspecting Odin and Thor, the attack wasn't visible to the naked eye. The two spectres slowly dissipated into nothingness as Shuren once again stared at his nemesis.

"I see, to think your flames could go to such a high temperature it isn't even visible," Rasputin smiled widely, "If I was to be hit with that I would disintegrate instantly." Rasputin seemed even more pleased about seeing the prospect of his own demise as his smile did not fade.

"True to your Soul ID lyrics, to your very core you are insane."

"I cannot learn the truth of the world by sticking to human morals, Shuren. My curiosity know no bounds, I want to see what I can do, what I can create, what I can achieve."

"Is that why you created that Chimera Anomaly!?" Shuren asks as his flames encompass his body. Rasputin just merely smiles back, Shuren takes this as confirmation. The flames around Shuren suddenly disappear, including his wings, however he was still flying in the air. All his flames, fuelled by his anger, had reached such a high temperature that none of them could be seen.

Shuren swings down his arm in a vertical swing, Rasputin quickly calculates the trajectory of the invisible attack and raises both of his blades and blocks the attack, however the force sends him crashing down into the ground, Rasputin's wings turn back into mist from the sudden impact. Blood seeps out between his lips, which he licks up with his tongue and ingests back into his system with a smile.

"Ha ha ha," He laughs out loud as he slowly gets back onto his feat again. "To think you would force me to use my final trump card, ha ha ha. I never know what life will throw at me despite living for well over a century." Rasputin holds both his blades up into the sky as the chain that once held them together separates from the two swords and suddenly expands in size.

A dark void appears in the ground that the now colossal chain shoots into, after a few seconds the gold chain pulls up something out of the dark void. A towering sized wolf appears with the chain gripping it around the neck. It glares menacingly at Shuren who continues to float in the sky. As the void disappears the chain releases the wolf that howls a loud battle cry. Shuren looks on questioningly at the huge wolf below him.

"This is one of the most dangerous creatures in all Norse mythology, Fenrir," Rasputin explains as he carves another huge hole with his dark sword and another huge monstrosity moves out of it, "Einherjar Muspelheim." A even bigger figure appears that is so huge it almost pierces the sky. Its body although humanoid was anything but human. Its skin was red like a poker, its hair was long and dirty, and its blade although heavily chipped was about the size of a skyscraper.

Rasputin's wings remanifested themselves as he ascended back into the sky until he was at the same altitude as Shuren.

"I have the entirety of Norse mythology at my disposal, tell me Shuren, do you realise just what kind of hopeless situation you are in?"

"My soul is one of vengence, Rasputin. No matter what you say, I will make you pay for what you've done!"

"How pitiful. However, the flame in your life will soon burn out, Fenrir, Sutr!" The two monstrosities roars shook the sky as Shuren prepared himself for round two against his nemesis and his two new puppets.

The man hidden behind the mask had slowly made his way past the Midgard Einherjar and into another section of the Slayer's base. After descending several flights of stairs he came across something that looked like a prison. There was something behind the rusty bars, however it wasn't human. Its body consisted of many different creatures all mingled together.

"As I suspected, they kept it alive," the Masked Man gazed at the creature that was lying down on the floor with low grunts escaping from its many heads.

"A Human Anomaly," The creature stated weakly as it gazed at the Masked Man. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to collect the church's research on Chimera Anomalies such as yourself, as well as one other reason." The Masked Man glared at the creature that looked on the verge of death, "I want the soul of the girl who sacraficed herself to defeat you."

The creature before the Masked Man grunted as it remembered the woman who shattered her own soul to save the lives of a little girl and the reaper he was lured to several years ago. "Are you not also out to use me?" The Chimera Anomaly asked in disdain.

"I have no use for a church's handmedown, logically why use something broken when I can create several superior new ones?" The Masked Man asked emotionessly, "But I will be taking Nadia Ivana's soul," The Masked Man pulled out something that looked like a jar and removed the lid, "Soul Extraction," he said as a dust like substance started exiting from the Chimera Anomaly's many mouths, as it writhed in pain, and went into the open jar.

After about a minute elapsed and Nadia's soul was sealed inside the bottle the Chimera got onto its many feet filled with anger. It slammed through the bars of its cage and tried to swipe at the Masked Man with one of its claws, the Masked Man easily dodged it however.

He then took out a sheethed jet black sword from a pocket dimension and quickly unsheathed the blade.

"I was not aiming for you," He stated as the ceiling and the roof collapsed opening up a view of the night sky. The Chimera Anomaly destroyed all the oncoming debris that would have otherwise hit it with its many claws, arms, and wings. It then returned its gaze back to the Masked Man who simply swung the sword one more time, "The pieces are set." He stated as heavy black rain drops fell from the now open sky.

"Urgghhaaaahhhh!" The many heads of the Chimera Anomaly screeched as the raindrops hit them, forcing the monstrosity back onto the ground. "Muramasa-Masamune's soul shattering rain? How are you unaffected by it?" It asked weakly.

"Muramasa-Masamune has long since submitted to me, it knows who's soul to devour." The Masked Man answered in his usual monotonous voice.

The Chimera Anomaly continued to scream until there was nothing left of it but an ugly green liquid.

The Masked Man glared for a second at the former Chimera Anomaly whilst muttering, "Whether it is the church, or the Thanatos family, they seem to be delving themselves into the fusion of souls."

Fenrir instantly charged at Shuren and closed the distance almost instantly. As Fenrir leashed out its fangs Shuren took evasive action to the right but Fenrir still managed to bite into his left arm.

"Gah!" Shuren cringed from pain. Despite the fact Shuren was surrounded by flames, with the area that Fenrir was biting as the epicentre Shuren's arm was being frozen, "You give the term frostbite a whole new meaning," Shuren joked as he surrounded his right arm with a flame blade and severed his left arm before the ice spread any further.

Shuren quickly shot several beams of pure flames at his assailant, however Fenrir quickly encased itself in a hollow egg shaped ice shell that although Shuren's flames melted the ice somewhat, his attack didn't reach Fenrir. "Tch," He grunted as his left arm regenerated.

Shuren then quickly notices a colossal blade surrounded by fire was coming down on him, he immediately dodges Sutr's attack by beating his currently invisible wings. The blade crashed into the floor and created a huge crater at the point of impact. "You trying to hit me like that is like me trying to kill a fly with a pistol!" Shuren shouts as he creates a huge orb of fire and throws it directly into Sutr's face.

"Urghhhhaaa!" The monster grunted as it held its hands to its eyes and stomped on the ground with its huge feet in anger. It then clapped its hands together in a loud thud and a tsunami of magma reached high into the sky. Seeing the incoming attack Shuren quickly ascended higher into the sky as the huge boiling waves levelled all in its path.

He then noticed a white beam heading at him, Shuren quickly dodged and expanded the length of his flame sword and swung it at Rasputin who was over twenty metres away. Rasputin dodged and flew straight at Shuren, who switched his attack to numerous fireballs, but Rasputin dodged them whilst not slowing down his momentum. As Rasputin was within a few metres, Shuren suddenly felt another presence behind him.

Fenrir let out a ice cold breath at Shuren, who expanded his wings to defend his body, his wings instantly shattered and he began to fall towards the earth. Rasputin charged at Shuren and swung his white blade at him, Shuren expanded the flames of his fists and propelled himself further to the ground to dodge the attack, whilst at the same time, using his feet, he kicked a wave of fire at Rasputin, who was too slow in dodging the attack and got his right arm burnt.

"Impressive," Rasputin complimented as he tore off the heavily singed right sleeve of his clothing. "To fight all three of us as at once, for you who was merely Nadia's rearguard support, you've truly become strong."

"Did you think I would have come here if I was weak? Back then I merely fulfilled my role of being Nadia's partner, that doesn't mean to say I don't know my way around a fight." Shuren states as he notices Sutr hurling a colossal boulder at him, Shuren punches forward as he released a huge fire beam that was taller and wider than he was. The boulder instantly disintegrated and the beam carried on to Sutr and hit him in the face again, this time knocking the titan onto its back from the sheer force of the attack. The giant's fall shakes the ground. "From the very beginning I've been targeting you who has somehow managed to survive countless assassinations throughout history. For the sake of turning you to ashes, I will not allow myself to be weak!" Shuren screams as he claps his hands together and a huge quantity of black fire gathers below him and slowly takes form, into that of a giant black flaming bird. Shuren stood on the birds back that released black embers with every flap of its wings. "The incarnation that will grant me my vengeance, Malice Phoenix!" The huge bird roared as it ascended higher into the sky as Shuren gazed at his nemesis with his hatred filled eyes.

"HA HA HA HA!" Rasputin laughed as he looked on at the bird manifested of Shuren's flames of pure hatred. "You're growing more astounding every second, Shuren. Now I definitely must have your soul." With a loud rumble Sutr returned to its feet and swung its blade at the Malice Phoenix, which quickly dodged and released huge black fireballs from the heavy flaps of its wings, Sutr attacked the incoming flame with its blade, although it succeeded in defending itself more cracks appeared on its blade.

Fenrir tried to freeze the Malice Phoenix with its ice breath from behind, but one swing of its wings instantly evaporated the attack. Afterwards numerous smaller black birds sprouted out of the Malice Phoenix and with swift movements they flew at Fenrir, before it could react.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!* - they exploded onto Fenrir at point blank range. With a whimper Fenrir slowly faded away into a similar dark abyss hole from where it once appeared.

"Einherjar Alfheim!" Rasputin shouts as numerous spectres with pointed ears flew towards Shuren and the Malice Phoenix. The Malice Phoenix released another huge fireball that engulfed all the spectres who tried desperately to erect a barrier of light, only to scream as they dissipated into nothingness.

"What were you trying to accomplish with those weaklings!?" Shuren asked as he glared at Rasputin.

"Just a distraction for this," He replied, suddenly huge chains wrapped around the Malice Phoenix and dragged it down towards the ground, Shuren was shocked, it was the same chain that had summoned Fenrir. "The Gleipnir segment of my Soul Slayer can do more than just drag out Fenrir, its a chain that cannot be broken, even by your beloved Malice Phoenix." The chains further pulled the Malice Phoenix down to the ground as it tried hopelessly to fight the intense pull.

Sutr upon seeing its now restrained prey, swung its huge blade at the Malice Phoenix. Shuren jumped off the Malice Phoenix's back and reused his wings of fire to remain airborne. Before the Malice Phoenix could be sliced by Sutr's blade, it suddenly turned into the miniature birds, the restraining chain came loose at the sudden change in size of its captor. The many thousands of birds then flew at Sutr in a mass suicide attack.

*Boom Boom Boom!* - the heavy power and number of explosions shook the sky and covered Sutr's entire body. The spectre of Sutr slowly faded and then vanished, the only remains of the giant was the damage it had done to the landscape.

"Ha ha ha ha, even Sutr has been defeated. I guess now it is just the two of us. I doubt you can call upon that Malice Phoenix again any time soon." Rasputin states.

"You also have lost the most useful of your Einherjar, so don't think you have me beat." Shuren surrounds both his hands with his fire blades and flies at Rasputin, who in turn charged at Shuren wielding the two blades that made up his Soul Slayer.

*Ching Ching!* - The two arch enemies exchanged each other blow for blow as they flew at high velocity. Suddenly parts of Rasputin's mist hardened and manifested into several javelins which he launched at Shuren, who blocks them with a large wave of fire. During the quick exchange the destroyed mist javelins returned to mist and blocked both anomalies' view of one another.

Shuren instantly noticed Rasputin flew below him and had sent a white wave at him, he quickly dodges the attack, but then he notices numerous mist javelins formed overhead and raining down towards him.

"URGH!" Shuren grunts as many of the javelins pierce his back as Rasputin watched on with an evil smile covering his face.

Suddenly the area around Shuren instantly turned black.

"What the!? Where am I? Where's Rasputin!?" Shuren shouted in shock as he turned left and right to try and find his nemesis, who was nowhere is sight. His eyes then happened upon the back of a teenage girl he recognised. "It can't be..." Shuren's body shook, "Nadia!?"

Suddenly in front of the girl a grotesque monster made up of many different creatures appeared and devoured the girl whole. "NADIAAA!" Shuren screamed at the horrible sight as the monster's jaws crunched on the girl, "NOOOO!" Shuren cried as he shot a huge dense flame at the monster that disappeared before his attack even reached.

Then several more images of Shuren's deceased lover manifested. As did several creatures and people around her. The many images of Nadia were suddenly killed in many gruesome forms including disembowelment, beheaded, disintegrated and eaten alive.

"NOOOOOOOO!" Shuren upon seeing the many Nadias dying let out a tear endued scream. "Those javelins..." Shuren's body shook, "They're behind these images..." Shuren analysed as he tried to convince himself none of this was real. "So that's his ability, that mist can attack mentally, not just physically."

Suddenly all the severed heads of Nadia all hovered around and orbited Shuren.

""""Why didn't you save me?""" The many grotesque heads asked in sync, as their bloody hollow eyes glared at Shuren, """Even though I loved you so much, even though you said you loved me, where were you when I needed you?""" Shuren cringed at every word the image of his lover said.

"I wanted to save you! But I didn't even know what happened until it was too late!" Shuren replied as his eyes filled with tears.

"""Does that excuse your betrayal?""" The heads rebuked, Shuren opened his eyes wide at the malicious words spoken in his lover's voice. """Want or not the fact remains the same, I died. And you were nowhere to be found!"""

"Don't you think I suffered enough knowing that!?" Shuren couldn't hold back his voice, despite knowing it was an illusion his feelings were only growing.

"""Do you think that I suffered less than you, Shuren?""" The heads all stopped right in front of Shuren's face, merely inches away their eyes filled with malicious intent. """Shuren, I died despising you!""" They all shouted eerily. Shuren was only momentarily shocked from hearing those words as he recalled the time shortly after Nadia's death.

"Nee-sama, wished for me to tell you, that she loved you," A young Alma said with her eyes filled with tears, "Even at the end, Nee-sama thought the world of you. I could tell, she regretted that she couldn't be with you any more. That's how much you meant to her. She died loving you." Alma said as her tears got the better of her and she fell to her knees.

Recalling this memory, Shuren knew just what he had to do as he glared at the many heads showing a face more angry than he had ever shown anyone. His body got surrounded by a aura of flames that flowed around his entire body.

"When Nadia died, she may have indeed resented me. However, that is not for you illusions to say! The only one who has that right, is only Nadia herself!" The aura of flames expanded throughout the entire black world, disintegrating the heads and slowly the world cracked, then shattered.

"How did you!?" Rasputin glared on in shock as Shuren got to his feat slowly whilst pulling the mist javelins out of his back. "You escaped from my Sorrow Cage?" Shuren just continued to glare at Rasputin. "Well whatever, after going through that I doubt you are still in any condition to fight!" Rasputin shouted as he charged at the still glaring Shuren.

Rasputin sliced at Shuren with his white blade, Shuren didn't move, the attack sliced right through him. But Rasputin's gleeful smile was instantly changed to one of shock as Shuren regenerated almost instantly, "What!? Before there was always a delay before you regenerated!" Rasputin screamed in shock as he swiped with his black blade, however the same thing happened, Shuren instantly regenerated.

"Damn you!" Rasputin sliced at the still unmoving Shuren relentlessly, despite feeling the pain, Shuren endured every slice and instantly regenerated his body and soul after every strike. "Just how is that possible!" Rasputin screamed without letting up on his attacks, but they were still useless, slice, regenerate, slice, regenerate, slice, regenerate.

Suddenly two arms made out of fire sprouted out of Shuren's back and held both of Rasputin's wrists into the air, restraining the man.

"Shall I tell you?" Shuren at last said his eyes glowing with restrained anger. "My ability is fuelled by the malice I have for my opponent, in this case you. After showing me all those images of Nadia, just how angry do you think I am right now?"

"A power fuelled by malice!?" Rasputin questioned in shock.

"That's why even that man, who can copy every other Soul Technique, can't use mine. He's unable to feel malice after all." Shuren's glare further intensifies. "I've waited too long to do this, Rasputin." Shuren gathers fire around his right hand and pummels it straight through Rasputin's heart. Rasputin gurgles horribly as blood seeps through both his mouth and his wound. "Return where you belong, to the depths of history remembered as the madman you are!" Shuren releases an intense flame from his right hand that engulfs Rasputin's body from the inside.

"UUUUURGGGGHHHH!" Rasputin's flesh, body, and soul burn as the madman screams in anguish until there was literally nothing left of him.

There was no two ways about it, the Human Anomaly that lead the Churches' Slayers had died at the hands of Enigma's shadow leader, Shuren Azusa.

XXXXXXX
Chapter 40B: Battle Between Evils II – The Next Target For The Malice (Perspective: None)

"So, you've killed him," the Masked Man approaches, "But you are aware that he was only a pawn right?"

"I'm aware," Shuren glares at the Masked Man, "I'll find the one who ordered Rasputin to create that monstrosity and burn them to cinders."

"Cardinal Iodine was the one who did that," The Masked Man states, "I've already completed my goal of retrieving Nadia Ivana's soul, so I'll give you this, that I found." The Masked Man threw a bundle of papers to Shuren, the front page read 'Project Messiah' and had the name and signature of Cardinal Iodine as the authority figure of said project. But Shuren's mind was logged onto something the Masked Man had just said.

"What do you mean you have Nadia's soul!?" He screamed at the Masked Man, who simply showed Shuren the jar which contained the soul of his lover.

"Exactly as I put it," The Masked Man replied in his usual emotionless voice. Upon seeing the Jar, whose contents were uselessly rattling from within, desperately trying to escape from its prison, Shuren rushed at the Masked Man at an unbelievably high speed.

"Let her go!" Shuren shouted as he punched with a fistful of flames, but the Masked Man guarded with Muramasa-Masamune. Before Shuren could react the Masked Man pushed his fist aside and slashed at Shuren several times with his stolen Soul Slayer.

Shuren quickly regenerated but not before the soul devouring rain came down from the sky. "Urghh!" Shuren grunted as he fell to his knees.

"You are a good back-up option for my final project should Yuichi Shiro not measure up to my expectations, therefore I won't kill you. For the sake of your loved one's soul just try and hunt me down." The Masked Man said with his emotionless voice, "I will also be taking Excalibur-Gleipnir-Ragnarok." He stated as he picked up Rasputin's Soul Slayer, "Farewell for now, Shuren Azusa. Connect..." And like that the Masked Man disappeared with both Rasputin's Soul Slayer and Nadia's soul.

"DAMN YOU!" Shuren cursed as the soul devouring rain slowly subsided leaving a bitter Shuren screaming into the sky. "I will definitely get you, but first..." Shuren redirects his attention to the document labelled 'Project Messiah'. "I will have you join Rasputin, Iodine!"

Two new targets for Shuren's malice had been born.

Shuren wished to chase the Masked Man straight away, but he knew he was no match for him.

"Just wait for me, Nadia..." He said with a soft voice as tears flowed down his eyes.

"Double Reaper Technique: Multiple Earth Stalagmite and Birth Of Magma!" Reno says as he slaps his hands together. Suddenly several interconnecting rock pillars shoot up from the ground and surround us as a burning, bubbling, orange liquid flows beneath us. The rock pillars had seperated us from Shiori-sempai, well this will mean she is safer still.

But in just that single instance Reno had basically created himself his own small volcano, but jesus it's hot!

"Activating two large scale Reaper Techniques simultaneously, as to be expected of the Cerberus family's prodigy. It looks like I will have to go all out from the word go." Stella suddenly jumps backwards into the air towards Reno's magma pit, does she have a death wish? But... "Take form Quadra Dragon!" All of a sudden something that I can only describe as a four headed dragon appeared out of nowhere below Stella, who landed safely on its back. The dragon is roughly about seven metres tall with each of its black wings equalling the height of its body. However each of the heads is a different colour from left to right they're green, red, blue, and yellow.

The red head of the being Stella called the Quadra Dragon leans back and then forth and unleashes a huge fireball towards Reno and I. Not wanting to be charred we each dodge to the side and I quickly create my silver and shoot it "Silver Rain!" I call the attack name as it flies towards Stella and her dragon.

"Incinerating Vortex!" Reno also unleashes an attack where the magma below is sharply rising with a high rotation like a hurricane of fire.

The Quadra Dragon however isn't making any attempt to dodge our attacks. "Take form Shield Wasp! Defender Butterfly!" Two new creatures suddenly joined Stella's growing monster army. The huge armoured wasp stands between my Silver Rain and the Quadra Dragon the shield on its left arm or stinger suddenly expands. At the same time the huge butterfly that is filled with all the colours of the spectrum erects something like a transparent wall between Reno's attack and Stella. Both our attacks get stopped dead by the two new monsters.

"Tch!" I grunt as I notice the Quadra Dragon's green and blue head moving suspiciously. Suddenly the green head shoots out a ball of compressed air towards me and the blue head shoots a beam of ice towards Reno. We each run in opposite directions around the circular platform around the interior of Reno's volcano. At the same time I have myself manifest several silver javelins that I launch towards the Quadra Dragon but the wasp simply blocks it like before as does the butterfly for all of Reno's fire attacks. I then suddenly have an idea form in my mind, when Reno launches another attack that the butterfly blocks I manifest another few silver javelins. The first one like before I send towards the Quadra Dragon that the wasp intercepts, however the other one I send at the butterfly, which suddenly releases its barrier to dodge my javelin and Reno's attack at last continues on towards the Quadra Dragon although the blue head intercepts the fire attack with its own ice breath. Whilst all three of the other heads alternating shooting blasts of fire, air, and lightning at me. "Silver stairs!" I shout as I conjure silver in mid air to act as my footholds as I essentially run literally into the air.

I again launch an attack with my javelins simultaneously at both the butterfly and the dragon. I don't know the reason but for some reason the butterfly is unable to defend against my silver unlike that wasp although it doesn't seem to have any trouble guarding Reno's flame attacks.

"Just as I thought," I say to myself with a smile my suspicions confirmed. the butterfly again opted to dodge the attack whilst the wasp guards the Quadra dragon.

"Reno! Switch targets! Forget the dragon for now, try attacking the wasp with your flames and leave the butterfly to me!" Reno obediently nods as we pass by each other whilst we run past each other around the platform.

"Silver Rain!" I shout as I release my barrage of silver towards the butterfly.

"Magma Wave!" A burst of the magma shaped live a snake dives below aiming for the wasp.

"Take form Dimensional Tarantula!" Stella shouts from the back of the Quadra Dragon and a huge ugly spider hovers over the magma using several webs to hold itself in place. Suddenly a distortion covers both the wasp and the butterfly, before our attacks hit them, they both suddenly change places and use their respective defence techniques against our attacks.

"Such creatures don't exist," Reno states plainly as he stands next to me.

"What are you saying? They're right there and giving my almighty beautiful brain a severe migraine." I state, just how can they not exist if they're right before us?

"Correct, they don't," Stella admits, "One of my abilities allows me to pull things from my imagination and into reality, well there is a limit." Seriously!? What kind of haxed power is that? Hurry up and trade with me, pulling naked girls from my imagination would be quite the fun pass time.

"During my time in the hospital I had nothing to do but dream things up in my imagination."

"Hospital?" I ask curiously.

Stella shows a somewhat sad look from on top of the dragon. "I was born to a random man and the wife of a man who is part of quite the demented family. An illegitimate child. My step father subjected me to several forms of mental and physical torture. Ripping mother limb from limb in front of me being one of the more milder incidents." How the hell is that mild!? "However, there was always one time when that man looked apologetic, during that time he would smile and say how sorry he was as he offered me a glass of lemon water. But it was so strange, every time I drank it I always felt tired and nauseous, ha ha ha."

"Huh, what, what was so funny about that?" I ask.

"It's not funny, Yuichi Shiro. Lemons can be used to cover up the taste of other ingredients that was added into the water." Reno explained.

"Poison?" I ask as he nods.

"Correct, the only time he smiled at me was the time he knew how he was slowly killing me!" Stella screams, "During my time when I was beyond help and awaiting death I met Cammy. She too had difficult family circumstances and had been brought to the hospital after a failed suicide attempt. We confided with one another, everything that happened. And we accepted each other, for everything. So when I was approached by Shuren-sama about whether I wanted to live, not wanting to succumb to that scumbag's poison, or to be seperated from my new found friend, I instantly agreed and Cammy followed suit. We cut our ties with our screwed up excuses for a family and were granted the power of an Anomaly and I a fully revitalised body!" Stella regains her anger as she glares at us. "Therefore, for harming my friend, I will have you all die here!" Those final words carried more emotion than the rest of her speech.

All four of the heads of the Quadra dragon shoot out their elemental attacks and Reno and I continue our running around the volcano. Suddenly several distortions appear around both me and the battle ground they absorb several of the Quadra Dragon's attacks and the attacks continue on at me from out of one of the other holes that were created, I quickly dodge a ball of lightning, that enters another hole and comes out of another, the attack having been redirected towards me.

"Silver Wall!" I conjure up my defence, if I dodge it will probably only have a result like before, so this time I guard, my shield successfully blocks the attack and I break down my now electrified wall into the javelins and throw them at the butterfly. The spider like before switches the place between the butterfly and the wasp, which erects its shield, however "Bzzzztt!" It lets out a buzz as the electricity in the javelins is transferred through its shield into it. The overgrown wasp falls lifelessly into the magma pit below.

"One down," I state proudly.

"Gahh!" Stella grunts for some reason as she holds her head, what happened?

"You really are something else, Yuichi Shiro," Stella compliments whilst still holding her head. Well, I am one of a kind. "Take form Flare Kraken! Ritual Puppeteer! Scythe Millipede!" Great, more things to deal with, at this rate this will never end.

The overgrown centipede, no she said it was a millipede, charges for me with its blade like legs on the ready, I dive out the way as it leaves a large scar on the rocky surface. Reno probably noticing my danger shoots a ball of magma at the creature, but the butterfly intercepts and the Quadra Dragon concentrates its attacks on Reno who skilfully dodges and launches another separate attack whilst the butterfly is still blocking his first attack the magma heading straight for the dragon, however the caped puppeteer hurls it strings and throws its ugly puppet in the way of the attack. The puppet instantly disintegrates, however...

"AAAARRGGHHH!" Reno suddenly screams in pain

"Reno!" I shout, I didn't notice any attack hitting me.

Stella looks on with a smile, "Oh, didn't you know? When you attack the Ritual Puppeteer's puppet, a portion of the damage is returned to the user who destroys it!" What then Reno essentially just attacked himself? "Not only that, for as long as the puppeteer exists then he can always create a replacement." As she says that the disintegrated puppet reappears attached to the puppeteer's strings. That's one troublesome monster.

Suddenly whilst still half lost in thought I notice the millipede trying to attack me with one of its sword like legs, not having any time to dodge, I block with my silver sword, the force of the attack forcing my feet to slide along the rocky surface. As it unleashes another attack with another of its legs I dive to one side and the momentum the millipede had built up forces it into the wall with a loud crash. However, out of nowhere a red tentacle wraps itself around my waist and lifts me off the ground, "What the hell!?" I scream as the tentacle tries to pull me into the magma pit below.

"She placed a monster within my magma!?" Reno shouts as he notices my predicament. Come to think of it she did mention something like a Flare Kraken or something.

"Considering you went to the trouble of creating this unique setting, I figured I'd put it to good use." You can piss off with the idea of giving me a lava bath! I manifest silver around my entire body and manipulate it to pull against the force of the tentacle trying to drown me in the magma or burn is probably a better word. Whilst still battling the pull I manifest a javelin in my hand and slam it into the tentacle, luckily this is enough to force it to let go, and withdraw back into the magma. The yellow head of the Quadra Dragon shoots a ball of lightning at me, I create another silver wall to protect me from the attack and get myself back to the safety of the platform.

The millipede is there to greet me again as I dive out of the way of its leg.

"A physical close range attacker, an elemental long range attacker, an elemental defender, two support types that distort dimensions and transfer damage respectively, and one that attacks whilst remaining hidden, and before she had a physical defender as well. Damn, these monsters are very well rounded and cover each others weaknesses." I say as I grunt in anger.

"Yuichi Shiro, we need to take them down one at a time, they're formidable together because of their combinations, but as we defeat them, more attack methods will become open to us!" Reno shouts to me from the other side of the volcano whilst avoid an ice breath from the blue head.

"I'm already aware," I declare as I dodge another attack from the millipede. The troublesome monsters are the two that are acting as the supports that puppeteer and the spider. The butterfly shouldn't be too difficult now that the wasp has been defeated but it's still a problem because of the supporters.

As I'm thinking to myself the Kraken slams a tentacle towards me, I jump back and dodge the attack smashes part of the ground, then a fireball shoots at me from the magma, it must have been the Kraken. I use my silver shield to defend myself from the attack however a hole appears before it reaches my defence. "Urghhhh!" The fireball that was redirected thanks to that tarantula's dimension smacked me right in the back. I wipe the blood away from my mouth as I avoid the millipede's attack again.

I then notice that the butterfly is busy defending against one of Reno's attacks and I get a sudden idea fly through my head. "Time to level the playing field!" I shout as I throw an immense number of javelins whilst also flying towards the butterfly myself using my silver armour. A distortion suddenly appears both in front of the butterfly and the puppeteer's puppet, as I thought it is going to try and redirect my attack onto the puppet. Before my silver reaches the hole, I instantly disperse it, and before the hole can close itself I rush through it myself, and I find myself in front of the puppet. But the puppet isn't my target, it's the puppeteer itself, I fly towards it at high velocity and by forming a blade of silver at the arm area of my armour I slash into the puppeteer's chest.

"Urghhhh!" It grunts ugly as it disappears, like I thought, it's only when the puppet is destroyed that the damage gets transferred. And the puppeteer was only capable of fixing its puppet, not itself. That takes care of the most troublesome one.

"Way to go, Yuichi Shiro," Reno congratulates, which I respond with a thumbs up.

"Gahhhh!" Stella once again for some reason is holding her head in pain. "Damn you!" She screams as the Quadra Dragon launches its elemental attacks, more holes appear and the attacks come at me from all kinds of awkward angles.

Whilst the dragon is preoccupied with me, Reno suddenly shoots several fireballs, some are heading for the butterfly, some for the spider. The butterfly instantly erects its shield and the spider creates a hole in front of itself and the attack is redirected at Reno from the side. However he dodges by sliding the other side of the hole and shoots another fireball into the hole. The fireball reappears next to the spider and it burns with a horrible screech like noise. The webs it used for footing burning and the tarantula takes a dip in the magma pool below.

"Urghh!" Stella once again is holding her head.

"As I thought, when one of your monsters is defeated you receive some kind of damage or feedback yourself." Reno states as Stella continues holding her head in agony. Nicely done, now both her supports are gone we can fight without any worries.

"Curse you both!" The red and green head of the Quadra Dragon shoot their fire and wind balls at me, and at the point of making contact with me they converge together and...

The blue and yellow also combined there attacks at Reno but he used the magma to disintegrate the ice and evaporate it all before it made contact, no wonder he is called a prodigy.

The millipede attacks with its sword like legs again. But now that it's support is no longer threatening me I can fight a bit more carelessly.

"Silver Rain!" I shout as my silver pulverises the millipede, that is still trying to relentlessly attack me despite its balance being heavily disrupted by my attack. Whilst it is staggering now is my chance, "Silver side Column!" A huge dense amount of my silver sprouts out of the side wall of the volcano and rams into the millipede that is pushed over the ledge by the impact. "Another one bite the magma." I say coolly.

"Urghhhh!" Stella grunts horribly as the millipede dissolves into the boiling solution below.

"Don't worry, Yuichi Shiro, that magma is mine! Just get ready to finish it, my fire attacks will be useless after all." Reno states as he claps his hands together whilst avoiding more attacks from the Quadra Dragon, "Magma Eruption!" He shouts as all the magma ascends into the air suddenly, the sudden force freeing me from the Kraken's grasp, I then notice the large red squid like creature at the top of the burning magma.

"All right, I'm ready, release your technique, Reno!" And in that instant the magma begins to fall back down to the base of our home made volcano.

"Silver Spike Bed!" I shout as several spikes jut out directly below where the kraken is falling, and slice. It fell onto my spikes at high speed and landed back in the magma belly up before disappearing.

"Urghhhh!" Stella once again exclaims in pain, but I'm not letting up on the momentum I create several silver javelins and launch them at the butterfly that can only defend itself from elemental attacks. It tries to dodge but I catch one of its wings and like a lot of the other monsters, it fell into the magma with a circular motion as it uselessly tried to beat it's wings. "Urgghhhhhhh!" Stella looks at us as if she has gone completely insane, not that I considered her sane to begin with.

"Now it's just you and that dragon!" I shout whilst pointing my outstretched finger at the one who caused me so much frustration.

"Damn you!" Stella yells whilst holding her head with both hands. "Quadra Dragon!" She yells as the beast unleashes its elemental attacks.

Reno and I counter with my silver and his magma to erect a dual layered shield for us both. Our combined defence more than enough to stop all the Quadra Dragon's attacks.

"She's finished," Reno states, "Her power came from her combination attacks, which she can no longer do."

"Speaking of combinations, we make quite the dynamite one," I say with a smile and Reno just smiles back with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I'll let you have the best part, Yuichi Shiro," He says with a voice that seemed to say 'lets finish this'

"Thanks," I reply, as I hover up using my silver armour. I ascend higher into the sky as I look down on the dragon. I shoot myself like a bullet towards the girl riding on its back. As the dragon tries to fly to one side several pillars of magma surround it preventing it from moving.

"This is for all the people whose lives you've been playing with, in this screwed up game of yours, STELLA!" I shout as the Quadra Dragon launches attack after attack at me, I endure the pain as I fly at the source of my anger with extreme momentum.

"YUICHI SHIRO!" She shouts as she draws some kind of blade but her body is staggering so she can't wield it properly.

"EAT BEAUTY!" I scream as I force my fist into her face. The force knocks her off the back of the dragon and towards the magma below her. With the attack on its creator the Quadra Dragon disappears with a burst of light.

Just as I think its over something shot towards Stella like a bullet. It then grabbed her before she touched the magma below.

Who is that? A tanned skinned man was flying with Stella in his arms. Wings made of fire were flapping keeping the duo airborne. An immense amount of fire suddenly shot out from one of his hands into one of the sides of the volcano. Creating a hole for the magma to leak out of.

"Shit! Reno disperse the magma, or our friends will get caught up in it!" With a nod Reno has the magma disappear as does the stony surface that made up the volcano.

The man and I glare at each other until a voice calls out to him, "Shuren-niisama?" Shiori-sempai calls out, wait he's Sempai's brother. The barrier no longer surrounding her. Maybe due to Stella's loss.

"It's been a while, Shiori," he says with a slightly indifferent voice.

"Why did you...Why did Enigma do this!?" Sempai asks in a voice filled with emotions, "If you were alive, why didn't you tell me!?"

"Forgive me, but in order to get revenge on those behind Nadia's death I couldn't allow you to know." Shuren said with a slight bit of guilt in his voice.

"You scum!" I shout, "Do you realise how many people you endangered for the sake of your pointless revenge!?"

"Be quiet, kid. I'm in a fowl mood right now. I have no desire to listen to your preaching. Even though I succeeded in eliminating one of my targets I now have two more in its place." Shuren shouts, his voice turning to one of annoyance.

"Target?" Sempai asks.

"Just now, I killed the man who stood at the top of the Slayers!" He answers.

"What!?" Sempai is shocked.

"He was the one behind that Chimera that killed Nadia, so I gave him the punishment he deserved. And that emotionless masked scum and one other shall follow soon." He proclaims.

"So you really succeeded, Shuren." Ark suddenly floated next to him. Under his arms are both Cammy and Slots and sitting on his shoulders are the two gemini twins. Wait if he's here what happened to our comrades? Ark glances at me seeing my worry, "I was told only to retrieve, I didn't harm anyone else." He says almost as if he can read my mind.

"But it does looks like you had quite the hard time. Even though Stella was already in a heavily weakened state before we proceeded with the plan, I didn't think she would be defeated." Shuren states.

"What, she was already in a weakened state before we fought?" I ask in disbelief.

"She had been holding me in a state of comatose stasis continuously for the past year, this on top of creating this entire world left her heavily weakened. If she wasn't she would have just resporned more monsters during your fight, and you wouldn't have had a sliver of a chance of beating her."

"What..." I can't believe what I just heard, just how monstrous is that girl?

"Anyway the dimension is breaking apart," Shuren says as he looks into the sky, several cracks are forming. "So we'll be taking our leave, Shiori, Yuichi Shiro." A black hole engulfs all the members of Enigma and they disappear.

"Damn!" I grunt as I punch the ground. I let them go.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 41B: Versus Enigma VII: After The All Out Battle

A few minutes after Stella was defeated the dimension collapsed and we returned to our own world. I quickly regrouped with my friends and Yuna, Ren is unconscious from the loss of his arm.

Wolfy is escorting Akane, Alma, and Shiori-sempai home. Shiori-sempai was crying as she left, the shock of meeting her thought to be deceased brother really hurt her mentally. Alma too was hurt pretty badly, and she also lost her sister's memento, Gungnir-Mj÷lnir.

Yuna is standing silently nearby, she's a bit depressed that the Ichiyu boy who saved her suddenly disappeared all of a sudden before she could thank him properly, I guess Yuna is developing into a woman now...What, no retort to my thoughts, she's more depressed than I thought.

"We'll be taking Ren-sama back with us to do something about his missing arm," Elizabeth says as she along with Reno support Ren's body.

"I'm going too!" Sakura says decisively, "I can't leave Nii-san when he is in that kind of state."

"Sakura-chan..." Elizabeth stares for a moment at her future sister-in-law. "Okay, but what about your parents?"

"I'll do something about that," I respond, looks like my book on hypnosis is going get a bit more use.

"All right, we'll be in touch soon. Connect." Elizabeth states before the Cerberus and Kirei siblings disappear.

"We'll also be heading back," Rose states, "I hope we meet again soon." She smiles warmly.

"Thanks for everything you girls." I say with heartfelt gratitude as I smile back.

"Nya ha ha, next time lets play together, Onii-chan," Lily says with a happy mischievous smile.

"HMMM! It's not like I came for your sake," Tsubaki states coldly.

"""Connect,""" they say together as they disappear with a burst of light.

"Then comma we shall also be taking our leave period with our leader dead comma I don't know just what will become of us period but comma I swear we shall keep our promise to both you and Ren Kirei period." Ley says as she along with all her still wounded unconscious comrades disappear all of a sudden, just what did she do just now.

"You too should head back, Lilicia," Alicia says as she prods her sister lightly.

"I want to stay a while, don't be cruel, Onee-sama. Unlike you who sees Yuichi-niisama everyday I only get these rare instances." Lilicia-chan says with a grunt, has she just reached her rebellious period.

"Father will be worried, Lilicia-chan, I promise I'll come to see you soon." I say as I pat the cute girl's head, whilst Alicia shows me an angry expression, no need for the jealousy my love, you will always be my number one.

"Okay..." Lilicia-chan slouches her shoulders "Connect." She says, but she doesn't disappear like everyone else, "Eh...Connect..." She retries but to no avail.

"What's going on?" Alicia asks, when suddenly a hologram appears in front of us and takes on the form of Father-In-Law.

"I'm sorry Alicia, Yuichi-kun." Father-In-Law begins.

"A recording?" Alicia says.

"Things have taken a turn for the complicated in the Underworld, until things boil over, can I please ask that you both look after Lilicia. I promise it won't take long, so I hope you can abide by my request." The hologram disappears and both Alicia and Lilicia-chan are showing serious expressions.

"Just what could have happened that is so complicated?" Alicia asks rhetorically.

"Young Master, your father is asking for you." A man dressed in a butler suit called

"Ahh, I got it. Jeez, Pops is such a slave driver." A teenage boy with cyan hair responded

"It looks like you've gone through another batch so soon."

"Yeah, they broke so quickly," the boy gazes at the many people dangling limply from the ceiling, "Go tell Pops I'll be there in a minute."

"As you wish."

As the butler left the boy pulled out a small cube that he threw onto the ground and the cube took the holographic image of a girl with short silver hair with parts of the sides in cute braids. "I guess since I can't show you my love, I've been playing with my toys a lot more, Lilicia." The cyan haired boy kissed the lips of the hologram of the Pandemonium family's youngest daughter. "But soon that will change, my dear." The hologram disappeared.

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Chapter 41D: Versus Enigma VII: The Next Move (Perspective: None)

"Well done, Carrisa. With this another pawn will serve a purpose. Nadia without Gungnir-Mj÷lnir is meaningless." The Masked Man stated without emotion.

"I'm glad your pleased, Master." Carrisa said with a slight hint of unease.

"For as long as it doesn't have a negative effect on the final project, I care not what you do in the meantime, you and Ichiyu both." And with those final words the man clad in the mask disappeared out of sight.

"So I can do what I want for now then?" Carrisa said to herself with a nod.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 41E: Versus Enigma VII: Final Dilemma Of The Day For Yuichi

"Must...resist...temptation..." I state as I tightly grip my extending left hand with my right. My left hand trying to reach for one of the black curtains covering up one of my many mirrors. "I swore not...to look...for ninety...minutes..." I further encourage myself.

Another minute passes on my clock.

"Just...seventy six...more...to...go..." I say as I further build up my fighting spirit.

Time passed by slowly, and as I'm sure I will look back. I will forever remember this as my longest ninety minutes ever.

This is the first chapter of the Arc that I've entitled: The Disturbing Coup. Hope you like it.

Spoiler for Chapter 42:

Chapter 42A: Fun With The Two Sisters – The Girl (perspective: none)

"Well it sucks that Pops needs to borrow four of my Hex Classes. But I guess all I will need to succeed will be right with me."

The cyan haired boy takes out a set of keys and opens the large steel door and walks inside the dark cell.

"No," A mid teen girl says weakly as she stares on in fear at her visitor, his mere presence brought only fear to the girl who was shackled to the far end wall.

"My beloved has wandered off and got lost. Lycan, will you come with me to help me find her?" The boy's words sounded sweet, but they only made the girl tremble.

"No, please, don't..." She begged in tears as the boy approached her and crouched down so they were face to face.

"Don't be like that, it's just a simple errand." The boy smiled as he bit his lip and let the blood drop lightly.

"Please, I don't want to hurt anyone!" The girl shook her body violently but the boy grabbed her small waist and turned her face back towards him.

"You're not hurting anyone, toys can always be replaced with new toys, so don't concern yourself with such things." The girl's tears continued to flow as the boy drew his lips to hers.

This usual intimate contact was the thing the girl feared most. The boy's blood flowed through into her mouth and down her throat.

Why? Why does he use me to hurt people? How can he smile knowing he's causing pain? The girl thought to herself as her tears continued and her resistance vanished. Suddenly a pumping like sensation flowed through the girl's body as her eyes went from tear stricken to savage.

"As the number three of my Hex Class, I'll be expecting your usual perfection, Lycan #13." The boy stated as he removed the shackles on the wall and the girl's eyes turned more and more malicious.

His living weapon had awoken.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 42B: Fun With Two Sisters – A Flower In Each Hand

"Well, we're here." I state as we walk through the huge open gate and gaze upon the many people running around.

Alicia and Lilicia-chan were worried about about what was happening in the Underworld so I suggested coming to this amusement park to help take their minds off things. Today I will ensure that they have the most fun ever, or else for the next three days I'll dye my hair pink.

"The living world has some fantastic ideas. I had never heard of a cosplay amusement park," Lilicia-chan smiles angelically. She's currently wearing a black one piece dress, a dark haired wig and a red cape, she is also carrying her scythe out in the open. "It's unfortunate that my scythe can't be used as a gun as well though." Well there is no need to get that into character.

"Those clothes look beautiful on you too, Alicia," I compliment as my fiancÚ eyes her own clothing from top to bottom. She's wearing a white one piece dress with her hair tied back into a long off centre pony tail and some kind of sabre attached to her waist.

"Urgh, Yuichi, I know that this place heavily endorses the cosplay, but it's not mandatory." She groans. Obviously you've never had the phrase 'in Rome do what the Romans do'.

"Now now, Onee-sama, if we're going to do this we should do it all the way." Well said Lilicia-chan, I'll pat your head later as a reward.

"Plus I get to admire the you two cuties in equally cute outfits, that's two birds with one stone." I add.

"Really, Nii-sama, do I look cute?" Lilicia-chan's cute face turns slightly red as she holds her hands to her face. I thought you were cute from day one, not just now. Have I never mentioned this to her?

"It's not like I'm dressed like this to please you." No need for the tsundere remark, Alicia.

"Right, let's go!" I shout as I run on ahead with the two sisters following behind.

We enter the house of mirrors and I instantly regretted it.

*Smash!* I punch the horrible reflection in front of me.

"There is no way the gorgeous me can look that ugly!" How dare they defy my glorious body with that monstrosity!

"Yuichi, what the hell are you doing!?" Alicia shouts in shock.

"Nii-sama, your hand is bleeding!" Lilicia-chan screams as she grabs my hand and licks at the blood with her tiny tongue, giving me a light tickling sensation.

"Y.U.I.C.H.I." And of course my fiancÚ cannot let it go. Shit she really is pissed.

What can I do to pacify her jealousy? I run my brain at full capacity and then I suddenly have a brilliant idea, now this is exactly why people always admire me for my genius.

Being the beautiful guy that I am this is certainly a grave sin, but quelling Alicia's jealousy has to come first, plus I get the feeling it will feel good for me as well. I inwardly smirk to myself does my genius know any bounds?

*Smash!* I punch another mirror and blood flows down my hand.

"Lick." I say with a smile as I extend my other hand. That's right, the best way to solve the situation is by having Alicia join in. Boy I'm such a great guy, injuring myself so that Alicia won't feel left out. Feel free to worship the ground I stand on.

"Like hell I WILL!"

"OWWWWW! Let go, I give!" Alicia takes my hand and twists it round. Lilicia-chan is still licking my other hand so I'm feeling pleasure in one hand and pain in the other.

"Oi you there!" A man who appears to be an employee shouts as he runs up to us.

"Shit run!" Taking the brief moment that Alicia was distracted I free my hand and grab the sister's hands and drag them with me. It's a shame I won't get the chance to feel my fiancÚ licking my hand today, but I definitely won't give up on it.

After running at top speed and taking several turns we managed to evade the employee. After having my hands bandaged up we continued on our way.

Our next stop was the roller coaster. Fortunately we weren't lined up for too long, I hate when they're long queues. I sit in between the two sisters as the crew member gives the usual safety instructions of keeping hands inside etc and then we're off.

"Whhhheeeeee!" The people around us scream as the coach suddenly drops down an almost ninety degree drop, Lilicia-chan cheerfully grips onto my clothes as she smiles widely, I wrap my arm around her. I then gaze over to Alicia whom normally would chide me for this I then notice why, she's shaking, is she not very good with these kinds of rides? I hold her quivering hand with my own and reassuringly smile at her with my S class good looks. And like this we finish the first ride with me having a flower in both arms, I'm truly the happiest.

After the ride I had three pictures printed off of us that was taken during the ride. We then go to a nearby bench to let Alicia who is still shaking somewhat to calm down.

"I'll go get us some ice cream so sit tight for a minute okay?" The two girls give me a nod in acknowledgement.

Yuichi has left to get us some ice cream, so I'm left sitting on the bench with Lilicia in silence. But what a day, I'm grateful that Yuichi was trying to help us take our minds off things but I wish he could be more considerate, although for that self proclaimed genius I know it is all but impossible

"Onee-sama," Lilicia who was silent up until now calls.

"What is it?" I ask noticing the seriousness in her voice

"I wonder if you realise just how lucky you truly are," Lilicia says quietly as she drops her head.

"Lucky? How so?" What is she talking about all of a sudden?

"I mean Yuichi-niisama. You got yourself engaged to such a wonderful guy and the only thing you had to do was lose to him in a game. And yet, technically that loss became a huge victory."

"What are you saying? Do you know how humiliated I was with that stupid game and being cheated like that?" All my negative emotions on the issue suddenly jump into my being, "I was forced into an engagement to him for the sake of our family's honour. He embarrassed me at that party, then like with the issue with Alma he sticks his nose where it doesn't belong and then he willingly turns himself into a human shield for his friends and put himself on death's door. He pulls people's feelings from one extreme to another!"

"Onee-sama, despite everything you just said, can you honestly say that you're unhappy that you met him?" Lilicia interrogates, why does she have to ask me this when she already knows the answer?

"If Father turned around to you and said you no longer have to marry Nii-sama, would you be happy or sad?" Lilicia continues her barrage of questions.

"Onee-sama," Lilicia's voice turns the most serious I have ever heard it, "The original reason you were engaged was to make Nii-sama a member of the Pandemonium family and protect its honour. If that is still your only reason, then there is a very easy way out." I raise my head to Lilicia who is looking straight at me with serious eyes, is she implying what I think she is, no, please don't say it. "Nii-sama merely needs to marry into the family, if you don't wish to do it, then there is always m..."

"LILICIA!" I shout in a voice that I didn't think I could ever make. All the pedestrians stare at us in shock, but I don't care, I feel wet tears flow down my eyes. "Please don't say any more, you already know the truth. Do you need to hurt my dignity just to hear me vocalise something that you are aware of?"

"Yes, I do," Lilicia gives me a defiant look.

I already know this isn't going to end well, but I swallow my pride, "When the engagement was arranged I had no choice but to follow, but that is a thing of the past. If it were to be broken now, I know that I will only have regrets. There are you satisfied now?" I wipe my tears away as Lilicia smiles.

"I understand, sorry, Onee-sama. I guess I got a little greedy wanting to become Nii-sama's bride," Lilicia steps off the bench and looks back at me, "Even though I've gained the role of a mistress, I still desired position number one."

"Mist...mistress?" Wait, Lilicia was taking that nonsense Father said before seriously? "Lilicia why would you?

"Want to be his mistress? The same reason you want to marry him obviously." Is she still teasing me?

"Lili..." I begin, but I suddenly feel a sensation I'm all too familiar with. "Reaper Technique: Coliseum?" I state the name as the surroundings become nothing but void.

Lilicia too drops the teasing attitude as her eyes gaze left and right.

"Ah, Lilicia, my love, I've come to escort you back to the Underworld." Lilicia freezes in terror at the voice we both wish that we never heard, I slowly turn my head and gaze upon the owner of the voice. He's a boy around my age with short spiky cyan coloured hair, smart noble clothes, and a long coat that he's wearing like a cape that matches his hair colour. A girl is walking with him as the bells on her ears ring and the shackles on her limbs clatter. He lets out a bright smile as he opens his arms wide with a over the top gesture.

"You look cute dressed like that my dear. Are you going to tell me you drink milk to grow up rather than meeting people?" He states, noticing the reference of the character she's cosplaying as.

"Why...are...you..." Lilicia stutters horribly as her body continues to shake and she tries to slowly edge away. I stand in front of Lilicia and draw my scythe to help reassure her, but this is bad, where is Yuichi the one time we need him?

The girl who was walking with the boy moves in front. She is also about the same age as me, with brown wolf like ears on top of her head and a bushy tail. She is wearing clothes that are skin tight and are transparent from the thighs down on her two third trousers and below the bust on her shirt. Her long hair is tied back into a long brown braid and she is wearing a red restration collar that is padlocked onto her neck. She glares at us like a savage beast as she gnaws her teeth together threateningly. I have no idea what this girl is, I've never heard of Wolf girls existing outside of fiction. But one thing I know for sure is that this girl is dangerous, I can tell instinctively.

"Heel, Lycan. Don't be rude to my future sister-in-law." He orders and the girl freezes for a moment before obediently stepping back. "My apologies, Onee-sama. Lycan can be a bit naughty sometimes," He says soothingly as he strokes the head of the wolf girl he calls Lycan. The savage beast shudders slightly as if she doesn't want him to do it, but can't refuse. It is then that I realise, just like with Lilicia, that girl is scared of him. Just what has he done to tame such a monster?

I shake my head wildly to remove my useless thoughts and concentrate on what matters right now, the fact he is targeting my sister. "I have no intention of being your sister, but I will quite happily be your killer!" I rotate my scythe and point it at the scum in front.

"Will we be unable to settle this peacefully?" He asks almost mockingly.

"Did you set up this coliseum and bring that dangerous girl to end this peacefully!?"

He shrugs his shoulders and smiles lightly and then points his extended finger at me, "Lycan, prey." The wolf girl retakes the vanguard position and brandishes her claws looking ready to pounce.

"I don't know why you are so set on Lilicia, but I will remove the trauma from her mind by ending your existence right here, Disturb Thanatos!" I declare as I charge at my foes. Disturb's smile just widens as Lycan dives forward and Lilicia's legs give out from the trembling.

With the state Lilicia is in there is no way she'll be able to fight, so right now, I'm the only one who can. Yuichi, please hurry back, your presence will definitely be the biggest reassurance, both for Lilicia, and for me.

I've just seperated from Alicia and Lilicia-chan and standing at the end of an awfully long queue. "Can I have a chocolate mint...no wait make it a coffee mint...oh scrap that blueberry mint...oh no..." The person at the front is being as indecisive as can be as everyone glares in annoyance, I certainly wouldn't want to go shopping with them, and does blueberry mint even exist?

"Hahh," I let out a sigh as I gaze at myself in my portable mirror, looks like I'm going to be here for a bit so this is as good as time as any to admire myself. Suddenly, a feeling I've felt before embraces me, "Jeez give me a break, can't a guy look at himself in peace." I've been involved in incident after incident lately, so I've recently been too lax at hitting my daily target of admiring myself for at least five hours a day.

I gaze around the created dark dimension aka Reaper Technique: Coliseum. Using something like this in a crowded area, won't people notice that I suddenly disappeared? I'm seperated from Alicia and Lilicia-chan, were they also dragged into this dimension, or am I there only target?

"Anyway, whoever you are come on out, I was in the middle of something like a triangle date, so I'm going to box your ears for interrupting!" I call out and a shadowy silhouette casually waltzes into view.

"Although I actually only have one ear that you can box," He says with a self cynical smile. He is a man who looks to be in his late thirties with short ginger hair, with a moustache and beard of the same colour. He's wearing dirty grey overalls with an equally dirty apron and has a pencil and small paint brush on top of his ear and some sort of board under his arm. "I am the number six of the Hex Class, please call me Van, Yuichi Shiro-kun." He introduces himself with a light bow, well considering he knows my name I'll skip the formalities and jump straight to the point.

"Hex Class? Sorry, but am I suppose to know what that is? What do you want?" I bombard the questions that I want answering.

"My soul is one that is of self confidence." I quickly begin my own incantation, if he's a Human Anomaly then I can't be taking any chances.

"Inspirational, influential and revolutionary." Van continues with the second line

"Beautiful, intelligent and kind." And I counter with mine

"Complete dedication to the paint and canvas!" He increases his voice almost to drown out mine.

"Absolute belief in myself, and those that surround me!" I won't be beat. No one will be forgiven for interrupting my (sort of) date.

"And my brush shall give life, to my still life!"

"And a will that never dulls, bends or breaks!" We both scream the last line in sync and our bodies glow, with me feeling the usual sensation of activating my unique power. I quickly manifest my silver sword and take it into my hand.

"Oh, the Hex Class are Disturb-sama's six top fighters, and I'm here to delay you." He says almost like it's an after thought.

"You completely missed the timing for answering." I reply as I swing my sword and point it towards my enemy.

"I guess this is what people call being 'artistically late', right?" He asks with a smile as he takes the board from under his arm.

"No," I shake my head in disgust at that awful term, "just, no." Wait a sec, delay?

"Delay me for what!?" I ask when I realise I'm still seperated.

"Delay you, so Disturb-sama can claim the youngest Pandemonium girl as his new toy." He readily admits. I feel my eyes widen in shock as I process his words.

"Lilicia-chan!" I shout on the realisation that she's in danger.

"Disturb-sama has chosen that lucky girl to become his, so we came here to escort her." Van continues with a voice full of passion that to me only sounds like something akin to a murderer bragging about his kill count.

I materialise a second silver sword into my other hand and create several silver javelins and launch them at the still boasting Van. However, he quickly jumps and dodges my attack and throws his board towards the ground. I notice that there is a picture of a huge tree on it. When the board hits the ground it brightly flashes, and then, a tree, just like in the picture appears, except in real life.

Suddenly a huge branch from the tree tries to swat at me, I quickly dive back.

"What!? The painting came to life?" I say in shock as I dodge another branch aiming for me.

"Silver Rain!" I shout as I launch innumerable amounts of silver towards Van, who pulls out another board and throws it to the ground.

"It's useless," He says as the board turns into a huge brick wall that blocks my attack. "I've created more pieces of art than anyone in history." He states as the wall breaks down into several bricks that all fly towards me at high velocity. I quickly manifest a wall of silver to protect myself from the attack.

*Bang bang bang!* My silver wall has several dents from the attacks

"What?" I say in shock as a branch wraps itself around my waist. Damn, I forgot about that tree because of the previous crisis. "Shit!" The branch lifts me into the air as the bricks from that wall surround me from all directions. They all shoot towards me at once I quickly brandish my blades and swipe at the branch holding me, I succeed and let gravity pull me to the ground, allowing me to dodge the bricks.

The bricks realign themselves and shoot at me again, although this time one at a time. When I dodge one attack another one flies right at me. Whilst dodging the bricks the tree tries to slam me with another of its branches, I avoid the attack and run up along the branch. The tree tries to attack me with more branches, but I slice at them with my two silver swords whilst continuing up to the tree's centre and avoiding the bricks. Once I reach the centre. "Circle Guillotine!" I manifest intense amounts of silver directly overhead and bring it down with all my might. The closer I am to my silver the stronger my control and influence. My Circle Guillotine slices right through all the branches like they are butter.

The tree that now doesn't have many branches left to attack me with stumbles somewhat, using this chance I raise the Circle Guillotine a little and then "Contract!" I shout as the Circle Guillotine shrinks in size around the thick bark of the tree and slices right through.

"Timber!" I shout as I jump off the falling treetop. The bricks try to shoot me as I fall but I create a bunch of silver and have it take the shape of an egg with myself in the centre of it.

*Bang bang bang!* The bricks continue their relentless attacks despite my defence. When I land on solid ground again I release the technique and dodge the incoming brick whilst glaring at Van.

"You're just as good as I heard you are, Yuichi Shiro-kun. Such an artistic display of power and technique." Van says as he claps his hands together.

"Not artistic, just smart." I am a genius after all.

"But is it all right for you to be playing with me for so long? Right now, Disturb-sama could be having his way with the girl. Lilicia-sama crying your name in vain as he slowly but surely breaks her spirit and turns her into a cute doll for his collection. How artistic!" Hearing Van's words I can feel my rage gathering in me as I glare at the man before me. If this was a shounen manga it would be right now when the hero gains a deus ex machina power up from hearing that someone dear to him is being tormented. Unfortunately, this is reality. So the only things that's happening is me getting more and more angry. Oh deus ex machina power up, why won't you come to me?

I swipe my scythe at Lycan, but I feel no resistance. "An after image?" Just how fast is this girl? I notice her standing over twenty metres away from me as her red eyes glow whilst she fixes her gaze back onto me.

Lycan charges towards me and I shoot a stream of electricity the attack just goes right through her, another after image.

Feeling a sudden brush of air from the side I enter a defensive stance with my scythe.

*Chich!* A huge crack appears just below the blade of my scythe as it collides with Lycan's claws. "What..." My scythe has always been well maintained, it's not like she found a weak point in it, her attack is just too powerful. "Are her claws sharper than Muramasa-Masamune?" I ask myself rhetorically.

"Urgghhh!" I feel a sudden sharp pain in my back as the image of Lycan before me disappears again and blood shoots out of my back. I quickly use my scythe as a support to prevent myself from falling.

"Onee-sama..." Lilicia suddenly shakes out of her trance, "Onee-sama!" She screams as her shaking body forces its way to its feet. With shaking hands she draws her scythe. "Curse you..." She stammers forward as her slow feet soon begin to gain strength and she charges towards us.

But Disturb quickly blocks her way and looks into her eyes. Lilicia's fear is rekindled as she tightly grasps her scythe trying to control her shaking. "You're no match for Lycan my love, you'll only be hurt in vain." He says with a smile.

"I...I...I won't let you hurt Onee-sama right in front of me!" Lilicia swings her scythe at Disturb, who blocks the attack with his own.

"Is this a new kind of foreplay or display of affection?" He asks himself.

"I hate you, Disturb!" Lilicia shouts.

"I see," Disturb nods to himself in thought, "You've been blinded to your true feelings because of your father and sister. You've been corrupted, but don't worry my dear, I'll ensure you see the light." He shouts whilst raising his arms into the sky with a huge smile on his face, I already knew it but, Disturb is disturbed. Lilicia takes a huge step back from hearing his last declaration as Disturb turns his head towards Lycan.

"Do it thoroughly." He orders.

"No, don't!" Lilicia shouts whilst she tries to run towards me only to be grabbed by Disturb. "Let go of me!" Lilicia struggles as Disturb just merely smiles whilst holding her.

Unfortunately I can't worry about Disturb right now. I refocus my gaze back to Lycan who is charging at me head on, like a wild beast out for blood. I too, charge towards her as I swing my scythe in a wide angle, expecting it to be nothing more than another after image and getting ready to redirect my attack. However, this time I feel an impact through my scythe and then.

*Crack!* My scythe cracks through the sheer force of Lycan's attack and my scythe's blade separates from the handle.

"Urgghhh!" I grunt as Lycan's attack continued down and slashes through me.

"Onee-sama!" Lilicia shouts whilst still being held back by Disturb who is still smiling with a refreshing grin.

I feel my legs grow weak as my vision grows hazy from blood loss. "Onee-sama!" I force my conscience awake and regain my footing as I drop my broke scythe and gather electric balls in both my hands. Even without my weapon, I still have my Reaper Techniques. What kind of sister would I be if I were to leave Lilicia with that man?

I know I can't win, my only hope is that Yuichi returns.

"He'll be too late," Disturb says as if he read my thoughts, "I left him a Hex Class as a playmate. I won't let anyone keep me from my one true love." As I thought Yuichi must have his own opponent, and your one true love as you called her, wants to be kept from you however.

"No matter what you say, do you think my fiancÚ will lose to one of your pawns!?" I shout, "We'll never let you have Lilicia."

"Nothing can keep apart two lovers, not you, not your foolish boy, no one." Disturb smiles confidently, "Lycan!" He commands as the girl licks my blood off of her claws causing her eyes to glow.

"Why don't you tell me that same line after you get past Lycan," Disturb's smile grows thinner, "If you can get past Lycan." He corrects himself.

"I can't waste any more time here," I say to myself as I dodge the bricks that Van launches whilst still edging closer to him.

"Then shall I give you an artistic death?" He says as he throws several boards to the ground and three iron clad knights wielding spears appear.

"Tch, I'm getting nowhere here," As soon as I defeat one thing he just brings out something else.

I jump to one side to dodge a brick and one of the knights tries to pierce me with its spear, I swiftly deflect it with one of my swords, and slash at the knight with my other, but that one gets blocked by one of the other knights.

"Urghh!" I yelp in pain as I gaze at the third knight's spear, that has cut into my left arm. I suddenly also notice the bricks shooting towards me from behind. All right, now I'm mad. I drop and reshape the silver sword in my right hand into three different anklets, which I swiftly attach onto the three knight's legs to hold them still. I quickly pull the spear out of my arm and jump to one side as all the bricks rain down.

Now that I've got all the nuisances in one place, "Silver Dome!" I shout as I create a huge mass of silver that encases all the bricks and knights and then "Compress!" I forcefully shrink the size of the dome trapping all within it. The destructive power behind those bricks was due to the speed they flew at, therefore, if I don't give them any room to accelerate, they're just worthless chunks of rock.

I refocus my gaze onto Van and charge towards him before he can call out something else. "It takes several seconds for you to give life to your pictures, I'll finish you before you can bring out anything else." I declare as I create a replacement silver sword for the one I discarded.

"Giving life to, indeed it does, however," Van throws two boards that spin either side of him, as I get within striking distance and try to slice at him. Van throws an arm into each of his pictures and pulls out a blade from each of the boards, and blocks my attack with both of his blades, "Creating inanimate objects doesn't take any time at all." The two now blank boards drop lifelessly to the ground as I glare at his confident smile.

"So you can also interact with your paintings and pull them into reality?" This was an oversight on my part, I thought he would be weak in close quarter combat, but it seems his power allows him to cover that as well. "You're a lot more of a dangerous foe than I gave you credit for."

"Creating art maybe my day job, but I am Hex Class, of course I'm artistically strong." Van says as he slashes towards my face that I dodge at a hair breadth, oi that's off limits, my face is a better piece of art than you could ever create, and do you have to try so hard to add artistic into all your sentences? I slash back, but Van jumps away and creates some distance as I create several silver javelins and launch them. Van dives to one side and at the same time throws a board on the floor, he discards one of his swords and pulls out a new weapon whilst in mid fall from the dive.

"Shit!" I shout as Van points his new weapon at me and...

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*, "URGHHHHAAAAA!" Shoots three bullets from its chamber, hitting me in both my legs and my arm.

"Unlike our number one Hex Class, I'm not a huge sword freak. Shooting someone dead is a lot more elegant and artistic than stabbing them." Van says with a smile as he continues to point the gun at me.

"Damn!" I groan in pain as I stare at all the immense amount of blood and blue steam flowing out of my limbs. My beautiful body is in complete tatters, and this pain is in league with being hit with a Soul Slayer. But, "I cannot fall here!" I manifest silver and have it put immense pressure on the wounds to stop the bleeding. "One as beautiful as I shall never succumb to this level of pain, not until I fulfil my quota!" I reminisce about the time I dreamt that Ren told me he would complete my quota on my behalf and that he'd tell me all about it. But, "I will do it myself! So I cannot fall!" I've been given a second chance at life, I highly doubt I'll get a third one.

"What are you babbling about? Whatever it is, it isn't very artistic!" Van shouts as he pulls the trigger.

"Silver Wall!"

*Bang! Bang! Bang!* - My wall of silver guards me from the attacks.

"This is bad," I say to myself as I look on at the blood escaping from the silver that I had constricting it. "I have no choice," I state as I close my eyes for a moment to regain my calm. "Given that I knew that Alicia and Lilicia-chan must be fighting someone, I wanted to save my strength for that fight. But that doesn't matter, right now I just need to get to them, I'll cross the bridge when I come to it, I'll fight for them even exhausted, even on the verge of death if I must."

"Just artistically die!" Van runs to one side so that he can get a different angle for his shot where my Silver Wall isn't in the way.

*Bang! Bang!* I manipulate my Silver Wall to guard me again.

"This is still in the beta stage, but now is the perfect time to try it out!" I shout to rev myself up.

I create an insane amount of silver overhead Van stares on in shock at the huge quantity, but that is not what is special about this.

"That looks artistically bad," Van deduces, still sticking that meaningless word in. "Your manipulating the silver on a molecular level and changing its physical state into a liquid, and there is such a vast quantity of it!" Van takes a step back at seeing the danger.

"It's not like I laxed off when it came to training my abilities." I state, "Now eat the fruit of my beautiful labour! Liquid Silver Technique: Silver Tsunami!" I drop the mass silver towards Van where it takes the form of a large wave.

Van jumps into the air to avoid the Silver Tsunami but I have a part of the wave retake a solid form, and like a tentacle it wraps around his waist and tries to drag him into the Silver Tsunami. Once I have him in there, then it's over.

"Tch, time for an artistic escape, I've more than fulfilled the assignment given to me by Disturb-sama." Van pulls out a board and puts his own body into it, the board then disappears.

"So he escaped," I lament, but I have no time to chase him down, "Alicia, Lilicia-chan, hang on, I'm on my way."

Lycan charges towards me at an incredible speed, I throw one of my electric balls at her, but it goes right through her like before, another after image.

"Guh!" I feel another sharp pain cutting into my side, but this is what I was waiting for. I grab the unsuspecting arm of Lycan, the beast like eyes shows shock for the first time.

"Now you can't escape!" I thrust my second electric balls towards the now restrained Lycan, or rather at the collar on her neck.

"GGAAAHHH!" The beast weeps in pain as the collar changes colour and she falls to the ground.

"Hooo," Disturb smiles at the sight, "You forced Lycan's collar to malfunction, and restrain her, very clever." The collar Lycan's wearing is the same kind that we put on Alma, it restrains the individual via certain keywords. Disturb probably had her wear it as a fail safe mechanism in case she turned on him, she is like a wild beast after all. "I never considered you'd do something like that, I guess I'll have to redesign the collar to prevent that from happening again."

"I told you, no one will get in the way of our love, although it looks like I'll now have to get my own hands dirty. And here I thought only Yuichi Shiro would be a match for one of my Hex Classes, even if your victory was simple lucky circumstances." He's right, I wouldn't have been able to defeat Lycan if it wasn't for that loophole.

"And I doubt Van will be able to delay him much longer, therefore." Disturb closes his eyes, and whilst holding Lilicia with his arm he forms several hand signs. Here it comes, eight white streams of light in the shape of tentacles sprout from Disturb's back, each tentacle has something like an eye inside of it. "Thanatos' Reaper Technique: Photon Options." Although the number of tentacles is inferior, it's the same technique as Carrisa's. Even though Disturb is a scum, he's still a Thanatos.

"I've really come to hate this technique lately," especially considering I've always been on the receiving end of it.

"Thanatos is considered the top of the three for a reason, a mere daughter of the Pandemonium is no match for me. Why must you stand in the way of me trying to bring Lilicia into my family?" Disturb asks seriously, he honestly cannot seem to understand the reason. He maybe even beyond disturbed.

"Because Lilicia hates your guts!" I shout as I run towards my foe with my electric balls. Several of the eyes glow and then shoot out white beams, I dodge to one side, but more glow and shoot their beams, I dodge again and throw my electric balls at the tentacles. The tentacles that are hit disperse, however another quickly forms in its place.

"Guhhhh!" From behind? I gaze at the Photon Option that had sneaked into my blind spot and shot at my arm.

"Onee-sama!" Lilicia shouts as I hold my injured arm, all the Photon Options circle around me.

"Disappear," Disturb says coldly as all the Photon Options shoot at me at once, damn it.

"Silver Mirror!" I finally hear the voice I wanted to hear the moment this fight had begun. Several sheets of silver surround me and the lasers shot from the Photon Options reflect back in the directions they came from whilst leaving a burn mark on the silver. Those beams obey the laws of light, so mirrors reflect them.

I gaze at my saviour and am astonished. He is covered in wounds throughout his whole body, blood is escaping relentlessly, he's in no condition to fight.

"Yuichi...niisama?" Lilicia looks on in horror at the boy whom we both love so much, who is dragging his body that looks as though is knocking on hells door. For someone who is always obsessed with his beauty, I never thought I would see him in such a state, I never thought he would allow anyone to see him in this state.

"You managed to defeat Van I see," Disturb gazes on, "But with one foot in the grave already, what are you hoping to accomplish?"

Yuichi looks at Disturb and then at Lilicia whom is in tears, then finally at me. "I'm going to kill you," Yuichi declares as he slowly drags his body towards Disturb.

"Does seeing your fiancÚ all beat up DISTURB YOU!?" Disturb shouts.

"It doesn't disturb, just pisses me off. Now seeing a middle aged bearded man, playing the bagpipes in a kilt, on a windy day, NOW THAT DISTURBS ME!" Yuichi shouts out some incoherent nonsense, is it due to his wounds? No it's just Yuichi being Yuichi.

A few moments elapse before Disturb scratches the back of his head awkwardly, "Okay, I can't disagree with you there." On just that one point, it seems friend and foe are in agreement, but now isn't the time for such stupidity.

"Yuichi-niisama..." Lilicia stares on still in horror as Yuichi forces a smile to his face.

"I'll definitely save you," He says kindly as his body seems to gather its second burst and he charges at Disturb head on.

Seeing Lilicia regain some strength Disturb glares angrily at Yuichi "I won't let you corrupt Lilicia any further, Yuichi Shiro." Four of the Photon Options shoot at Yuichi, wait four, that means, the other four shoot their beams at me, Damn.

But like before Silver Mirrors form and reflect the attacks from hitting me. But only from hitting me.

"Urghhh!" All four beams shot at Yuichi pierced through him.

"YUICHI-NIISAMA!"

"YUICHI!" Lilicia and I scream in shock at the boy who took all those attacks, but yet, his legs remain solid, and he continues to move towards Disturb, who harshly shoots the lasers from the Photon Options again.

Once again I am protected but, Yuichi. He doesn't have the strength left to defend both of us, so he's using what little he does have to protect me. Yuichi...I can't stop my tears at looking at my fiancÚ take attack after attack yet still continues forward. But at this rate.

"No more playing around, this time I'm aiming for your vitals." Disturb coldly states as energy gathers into the Photon Options with Yuichi barely able to move.

"NOOOO!" I scream

Just before the lasers are shot, "I'LL BITE MY TONGUE!" Lilicia shouts and Disturb's attack ceases. "I WON'T LET YOU HARM HIM ANY FURTHER!" I stare at Lilicia, that last declaration, her eyes, despite covered in tears, they're serious.

"You really have been corrupted, my love," The Photon Options move their aims away from Yuichi. "Don't worry, I'll definitely purify you," Disturb declares as he turns Lilicia, who is as solid as a statue, to face him and then, a most unforgivable action, Disturb interlocks his lips with Lilicia's. Lilicia is shocked as tears flow down her eyes and her body grows tense.

When he lets go of her lips, Lilicia looks even further saddened, "How...how could you...?" Her voice through the tears is weak. Yuichi, almost as if in response to Lilicia's tears rises from the ground and slowly moves towards Disturb once again. The Photon Options refocus on Yuichi, not good, I gather my strength, run and dive pushing Yuichi to the ground before the beams can pierce him again.

"Onee-sama...Yuichi-niisama..." Lilicia's face is full of grief and despair, but she tries to smile again, "Thank you..."

"Connect..." Disturb states as he, Lilicia and Lycan disappear.

"Lilicia...Damn it!" I failed, I let my sister get taken, and I let Yuichi get put into such a state, can't I be anything more than dead weight!?

Yuichi slowly rises up off the ground, tears are flowing down his eyes as he slowly marches towards where Disturb previously stood. "He's gone, Yuichi," I say as more tears continue down my face. But Yuichi keeps moving, I run to catch up to him and then I notice.

"Yuichi..." His eyes, they're, Even though he keeps moving, "You're no longer conscious." And yet he still moved, he still desired to save Lilicia, despite his wounds, despite his mind no longer functioning properly. Yuichi takes another step with his battered body, then another. "I said they're gone, Yuichi!" I embrace him tightly as I look at his hollow eyes that are still crying, "Please think about yourself, Yuichi. Your wounds are serious. Please, just for now, stop fighting, rest. Even if we lost this battle, for as long we're both alive, we'll get another chance. We'll definitely save her, so please, don't burden yourself any more!" I don't know whether it's because my words got through to him, but with eyes still crying, Yuichi's body goes limp as I feel his weight lean on me.

I strengthen my embrace further to support him as I release all my sadness and frustration. This was our complete loss. "Lilicia..." I soak my eyes into Yuichi's shoulder as I try to regather my hope. Today, I lost one important person to me, and I very nearly eternally lost a second.

During the time Disturb took Lilicia and defeated Yuichi, another incident was taking place, one that would change the way of the Underworld. The main territory of the Thanatos family was in a huge uproar as scythes clash and reaper techniques were exchanged. Corpses littered the land and the blood moist the soil.

"It's no good, they're too strong!" A reaper shouted as all their attacks are deflected by a single person.

"To think that the Head of the Thanatos' personal army is this weak, what a disappointment." A teenage girl with long scarlet hair with a blond fringe and violet eyes says as she walks slowly towards her opposition with her scythe resting on her shoulder.

"Priscilla...Orthrus..." One of the reapers identified, "Why are you doing this!?"

"Hades and the current Thanatos were the ones who chose Cerberus over Orthrus. Disturb-sama promised to change all that in exchange for me becoming one of his Hex Class." The girl answered as she took a stance with her scythe. "Soon everything shall be put right." Flames gathered around Priscilla's scythe as she dove towards the huge group of reapers that were blocking her way.

"Attack, we must protect our Lord!" One shouted as the dozen or so reapers unleashed waves of attacks with varying elements.

"Pointless," Priscilla swung her scythe in an arc letting out a stream of fire that stopped the attacks. "Small fry can just be fried!" She shouted as she jumped into the air and swung her scythe into the ground. Suddenly a wide tower of fire erupted from the ground engulfing all her enemies.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" The heavy screams of the reapers resounded through the night as Priscilla burnt their flesh, blood, and bones, slowly into cinders.

Priscilla examined what little remained of her enemies. "Was there a need for Cocytus-sama to bring four Hex Classes if this is all they can amount to?"

"He's being careful, and thorough, Priscilla," An old man who looks to be in his eighties with reclining short white hair says with a withered voice as he walks towards his comrade with support from his cane. "He's been waiting for this for a long time, it's only natural."

"Your finished on your end, Isaac," Priscilla asked.

"Of course," He said as he pointed behind him. Priscilla followed his finger to see a huge crater had formed in the ground that could fit several castles within it. "I had to hold back a lot of my power to avoid friendly fire though."

"You held back?" She asked rhetorically as she looked again at the huge crevice. But this kind of power was only to be expected of the Hex Classes number two, Isaac was three ranks higher than Priscilla and thus much stronger.

"Where are Owari and Kaiser?" Priscilla asked as she looks left and right.

"Kaiser has gone to deal with the reinforcements, and Owari..." Isaac smiled deviously, "Has gone to pick up insurance."

"I see," Priscilla could already guess what he was referring to as she turned towards her subordinates. "This battle is ours, wipe out any other who resists!" She shouts, as they're soldiers cheer. With two Hex Classes they felt invincible as they charged at their demoralised opponents, who could do nothing other than pray for a miracle. In both strength and numbers, they were beat.

"What is the meaning of this, Cocytus!?" A man who appeared to be in his late thirties with long cyan coloured hair and green eyes clad in a long red cape interrogated the man before him.

"You already know without asking, Tartarus," Cocytus, a man who looked almost identical to the other but dressed entirely in black, responded.

The similar looks between the two wasn't just coincidence, it was in their genetics. Each man had ten Photon Options sprouting out of their backs, this ability that was used by only one bloodline proved their identities.

Blood covered both men and their clothes were heavily worn out, the signs of their harsh battle.

"You no longer possess the power to keep me from ruling Thanatos, Tartarus," Cocytus' eyes glowed dangerously. "Therefore feel free to retire yourself to your grave." Cocytus' Photon Options shot their beams as does Tartarus'. The many lasers rebound off one another like billiard balls. Stray shots grazed both men in the arms. Cocytus' eyes opened wide, "This is revenge for all the humiliation you've put me through!" His eyes only held pure malice that bordered on the line of insanity.

Cocytus charged towards Tartarus with his scythe as all twenty of the combined Photon Options blast their lasers only to be deflected away by one another.

*Ching Ching!* The two Thanatos' glared at each other as their scythes got stuck in a deadlock. "It's because you're like this that I am the family head." Tartarus states as several icicles form the shapes of arrows and shoot towards Cocytus, who breaks the deadlock and jumps back to safety.

"You were just liked better by Hades!" Cocytus shouts in denial as he punches the ground which freezes from contact with his fist. The ice quickly makes its way towards Tartarus, who gathers flames in his own hand and also punches the ground, the ice and fire meets causing an instant evaporation. The steam covers the Thanatos audience chamber that is acting as their battleground. The Photon Options let out another barrage of lasers that both dodge or deflect.

*Ching Ching!* The force from the two scythes colliding create a shockwave that clears the steam. Cocytus has his ice take on the shape of a second scythe and swings it towards Tartarus' throat, who pushes off with his scythe and somersaults over the top of his assailant.

"There is still time to end this, Cocytus," Tartarus attempted to negotiate.

"So sure of your loss that you have to resort to begging, Tartarus. Like I thought, you're not fit to run the Thanatos family!" Several blades of ice are shot at Tartarus who skilfully destroys every one using his Photon Options. "So give me back what is MINE!" Cocytus' Photon Options release their lasers. Tartarus however merely shoots a single beam.

"URGHH!" Cocytus yelps as his own lasers were rebounded right back at him.

"I've already read through your attacks, Cocytus. And now I realised something which I felt I knew all along." Tartarus closed his eyes as his face contorted in grief.

"It appears that you're beyond hope," A single tear escapes Tartarus' eye, no matter how much they fought or disagreed, Tartarus still cared for Cocytus. However his position that was granted to him had to come first. "So at the very least I shall be the one who ends this. As the Head of the Thanatos family I shall now pass judgement down upon you, Cocytus Thanatos!" A dark mist covered Tartarus' hand as a green book manifested and his face turned into one of determination.

"So you've resorted to that. The Thanatos' Grimoire." Cocytus cringed at the book that spelt his demise.

"With this you're finished." It was true, Cocytus had no power to fight against the Grimoire, the fight was over.

"Thanatos' Grimoire, ope..." Tartarus began when a rip in space opened and three girls in their teens landed in the centre of the battleground followed by a young man in light armour carrying a sword at each of his sides.

"I advise you rethink that idea, Tartarus-dono. The Grimoire's power is difficult to control the essence of death may attack someone you don't want it to."

Tartarus stared in shock at the three girls who had been taken hostage, "Rose, Lily, Tsubaki!" Tartarus called the names of his three daughters, his ultimate power had been sealed by the triplet's presences.

"Well done, Owari. As to be expected of my son's number one Hex Class." Cocytus praised the man dressed like a sengoku period warlord, who gave a acknowledging nod in return.

"All is fair in war, Uncle," A voice stated from behind. "You shouldn't have let your emotions get the better of you."

Tartarus turned around "URGGHHH!" Just in time to see his back get blasted by the eight lasers from the Photon Options on the boy's back. The boy smiled as the bloodied man fell into a puddle of his own blood.

"Dis...turb..." Tartarus muttered maliciously as he tried to rise to his feet. "GUHHHH!" Disturb kicked him directly where he had shot him with his Photon Options and Tartarus fell to the ground again.

"No, no, no," Disturb said with a refreshing smile that was completely out of place, "You not being able to accept defeat is really making you look pathetic Uncle. Ha ha ha!"

"URGHHH!" Disturb planted his foot into the wounded man once again. "Urgh!" And again. Each kick caused his smile to widen as if it grew in proportion to Tartarus' agony.

"Disturb, we still need him, so that will be enough. I'm guessing you completed your personal errand?"

"Sure did, Pops. But she's been so badly corrupted I think it will take me a while to get her to open her eyes." Disturb said as he tilted his head to one side. "But I won't give up, I'll never give up. I shall remind her of the love we share." Disturb spread his arms wide as his smile looked as if he had attained perfect bliss.

"With your ability for this kind of thing, I'm positive you can get her to your liking by the night's end." Cocytus complimented as he turned towards his defeated brother. "With this, Thanatos will be as it should be, ours."

The father and son smiled as they looked at the fallen Thanatos family's head. Their coup an overwhelming success.

XXXXXX

Chapter 45B: The Coup – The Reason

After I was defeated by Disturb it appears that I was taken to the Pandemonium's Underworld residence. Alicia, Father-in-law, and Wolfy are looking on at me through the other side of the recovery capsule.

"I'm sorry," I say honestly as I feel my eyes swell up, "I failed to protect Lilicia-chan." I bow my head in shame as Father-in-law shakes his head.

"No, Yuichi-kun. It was my mistake. I feared for Lilicia's safety when I caught wind of what was happening. I couldn't tell Lilicia the truth, due to her fear of Disturb. I was hoping to solve the problems without her even knowing. And I can tell with one look that you did everything you could." Father-in-law smiles at me, it's a smile that aches my heart, "Thank you, for trying to protect my daughter." He doesn't have a hint of blame in his voice, I know he doesn't blame me, and yet this only makes me feel worse. How could I let this man down, how could I let Lilicia-chan down. From day one they have both shown me more kindness than anyone. They treat me like I am their own. Tears release from my eyes as I recall Lilicia-chan who despite being afraid, saved my life by threatening to take her own. My mind couldn't process everything at the time but there is one image that will probably haunt me for the rest of my life.

The moment Disturb forced his lips onto her. When I woke up inside this capsule I had prayed that it was a nightmare, but I was immediately told it wasn't.

"How can someone hurt a girl like her?" I ask as I wipe the tears from my eyes. I've met my fair share of messed up people, but this guy just tops the list.

"Disturb has always been like that. I don't know why he got so fixated on Lilicia but his mind is so warped and delusional that insanity is too weak of a word to describe him." Father-in-law explains, "Couple that with the fact that he has Thanatos blood running through his veins makes him an existence of the worst kind." He's just as dangerous as I thought, I definitely can't leave Lilicia-chan in his hands.

"Is there anyway to speed up the recovery," I ask as I look at some of my still open wounds, "I need to save Lilicia-chan as soon as possible." Right now she must be in absolute fear, and it's all because I failed. Even if I apologise until my throat ripped out, it still wouldn't be enough.

"What are you saying, Yuichi!?" Alicia yells at me, "Do you have any idea how worried everyone was about your injuries? These kinds of things can't be rushed, even with your uniqueness as a Human Anomaly!"

"But Lili..." I start.

"But NOTHING!" Tears begin to flow down, "We were beaten down so easily last time, these aren't opponents we can take lightly. If you go so recklessly you'll only die a pointless death, and if that happens how will that make Lilicia feel, how do you think I would feel? Yuichi, you seem to have this idea that for as long as you protect everyone then everything is okay. Just like in that last battle, you protected me but took attack after attack yourself. When there are people that care about you, whether you like it or not, your life is no longer just your own." What is Alicia saying? I don't recall ever thinking that.

"You do it on impulse, Master," Wolfy states as if he read my mind, "Did you not also do something similar when you protected Sakura-sama from that Slayer?" Is he referring to that encounter with Vincent?

"But someone as beautiful as I cannot allow a girl to be hurt," I reply.

"How hurt do you think I was when I saw you get blasted again and again by Disturb!?" Alicia screams in a voice filled with deep emotion as tears escape her eyes.

"..." I can only remain silent from hearing her last outburst.

Father-in-law sighs as he pats Alicia on the shoulder, "We're getting a little bit off subject here, but anyway I will be counting on your power, Yuichi-kun. Unfortunately due to how delicate the situation has become, it will be difficult for me to move around and resolve the matter personally." Father-in-law looks down.

"Did something happen?" Alicia asks.

"I got a message just before I came here," Father-in-law states, "Cocytus has successfully staged a coup against Tartarus." Tartarus? Isn't that the name of the head of the Thanatos family?

Alicia looks shocked, "He managed to succeed..." Her body quivers.

"Excuse me," I hate to butt in, but I'm clueless here, "Who is this Co...Co..." I can't pronounce it, "Cock person." Praise Hades for the gift of abbreviations.

Alicia just stares at me in disbelief for a moment, "Cocytus Thanatos, he's Disturb's father and the current head, Tartarus-sama's older brother."

Wait he's that scum's father? Does his seed contain the code for insanity?

"Tartarus' father the previous head decided to leave Tartarus as his successor rather than Cocytus on Hades-sama's suggestion." Father-in-law explains, "Cocytus has always bared a grudge against Tartarus, but he was until recently forced to keep the status quo."

"What happened that made him take action now?" Wolfy asks the question I too wish to know the answer to.

"Tartarus had something that tipped the balance of power in his favour." Father-in-law explains, "Or rather someone."

"Someone?" I ask.

"His eldest daughter," Alicia states, wait does she mean, "Carrisa." As I thought.

"The fact that Tartarus had Carrisa by his side left Cocytus no choice but to avoid conflict. He knew he couldn't win." Father-in-law explains.

"Just by being there, Carrisa kept the internal conflict in check, but now that she has gone rogue, the balance of power has tipped the other way."

I see, I never even thought to think just how important Carrisa's existence is to the Underworld.

"However, that no longer matters. Disturb and Cocytus are too dangerous to be left to their own devices. And now this battle has been made personal," Father-in-law's eyes grow intense from his hatred, "They shall learn what it means to make an enemy of me."

And I'll be sure to back you up every step of the way, Father. Disturb, you tormented Lilicia-chan and Alicia if you think you've seen the last of this beautiful face, then you're in for a rude awakening.

A few days have passed. I'm now more or less recovered. During this period the Pandemonium family has been using every resource at its disposal to learn what they can about the situation within Thanatos.

Myself, Alicia, Wolfy, Father-in-law, Kuro-san and Mother-in-law are sitting around a large table.

"Right, now lets begin the meeting," Father-in-law states. "Shortly after the takeover, Cocytus publicised a demand to Hades-sama to officially reinstate him as the head."

I heard about this, Cock is threatening he will attack the Underworld capital if Hades doesn't comply. We still have no idea how he's planning to attack it, there have been suspicions regarding a wide ranged Reaper Technique, to bomb threats, to just a direct assault by an army. Therefore large portions of our forces have re-stationed themselves to help avert the crisis. Tonight's the deadline for the demands.

"Obviously, Hades-sama cannot give in to such a threat," Kuro-san says as he folds his arms, "It's Underworld policy not to negotiate with terrorists." Even though he's from a noble family Cock and Disturb are now only considered terrorists.

"Which means we can only disarm the situation with force?" Alicia asks.

"The moment Disturb kidnapped Lilicia-chan, I wouldn't settle for anything less." I'm definitely going to pulverise him for making her cry!

"Don't worry, Annetta. They have too much on their hands to think about, I'm sure for now, she's safe." Father explains, but I can tell it's a brave front for his wife. This all happened because I failed, forgive me, Mother. "Now, moving on, we have confirmed some of our notable opposition."

Three holograms appear above the table, depicting Lycan, Van, and another girl that I don't know.

"Priscilla!?" Alicia says in shock as she stares at the scarlet haired girl. "Does that mean that Orthrus are backing Cocytus and Disturb!?"

"That remains to be seen at the moment, but at the very least Priscilla is." Father explains as he gazes at the girl's hologram.

"Um, sorry," I speak out, something is bothering me.

"What is it, Yuichi-kun?" Father asks.

"Not that I'm complaining, but Father, Lycan wasn't in a swimsuit when we fought her." I state.

"To notice that, as to be expected of you, Yuichi-kun. I went the extra mile when I paid to have this machine installed and added a certain patch. The system analyses all girls it displays and puts them into swimsuits that are best suited to bring out their charms!" Father opens his arms wide, "The best extra two hundred and fifty million of taxpayer's money I've ever spent!" What a godly machine! "By the way I'm planning on upgrading it so that they can be shown in erotic cosplay soon!"

"Seriously! Do you have Alicia and Lilicia-chan's data stored!?" I ask in excitement.

"I'm their father, of course I do." Father gives me a smile, wink and a thumbs up. I return the gesture with my own. This is why I respect this man so much.

"OWWWW!" A fist knocks me off my chair.

"I WON'T LET YOU!" Alicia shouts as a vein appears at the top of her head.

"Dear," Mother approaches Father with a smile, "I thought you told me the patch was a free service. What is this about an extra two hundred and fifty million?" Father sweats as Mother's smile holds pure malice behind its fašade.

XXXXXXXXX

One huge lecture later and the meeting resumes.

"Lycan #13, this girl is an unknown," Father begins and Lycan's image grows as we discuss, "According to Alicia she is capable of moving at intense high speeds and her claws are strong enough to cut through a Reaper's Scythe."

"Yes, I was able to beat her by using the restraining device on her, but next time they'll probably have a counter measure." Alicia explains.

"In other words we don't have any details of her background or what she is, so exercise extreme caution." Father states. "Next is the man Yuichi-kun faced, Van." Van's image enlarged. "Please tell us about him, Yuichi-kun."

"He's a Human Anomaly who has the power to give life to his paintings. When I fought him he used a tree and brick wall against me. When he gives life to objects however it takes a few seconds to accomplish. But he is also capable of pulling inanimate objects such as a gun out of his paintings instantly. I'm unsure if there is any limit to his power." I explain everything I learned.

"Quite a difficult opponent you had to face, Yuichi-sama." Kuro-san states. It was less him being tough and more the fact that I was trying to rush things that was the problem though.

"Don't mind, I should have used the whistle you gave me. I couldn't think straight at the time though." I explain.

"Then finally, I'm sure all of you but Yuichi-kun and Wolfy know about this girl, Priscilla Orthrus," The final image enlarges at Father's words, "She's the oldest daughter to the head of Orthrus, a rival family to the Cerberus. In terms of family hierarchy Orthrus would be fourth, just below the three families. Although not to the same extent as to someone like Carrisa, Priscilla could also be called a prodigy, her flames are to be feared." All the Hex Class appear to be troublesome individuals. "Unfortunately we know nothing of the other three members, so moving onto our main nemesis'." The three images disappear and two more take their place. One is a older man with cyan hair, and the other is...

"DISTURB!" I get up and punch the hologram knowing its futility, I can't hide my anger seeing that scum's face.

"Calm down, Yuichi-kun. That anger isn't just your own," Father pacifies and I retake my seat.

"The ones behind the entire affair, Cocytus and Disturb Thanatos," So that other one is Cock, I engrave his face into my memory, so I know exactly who to break. "Fortunately neither of them are capable of using the Grimoire. However, as Thanatos, Disturb and Cocytus are able to manifest eight and ten Photon Options respectively making both incredibly formidable. In addition, they will do anything to win, so don't expect a clean fight. Also be wary of the Thanatos' other innate ability of Kyrokinesis, although by nature they seem to lean towards using Photon Options just remember that isn't their only power." I see, so Thanatos have more than just their Photon Options. Kyrokinesis is the ice version of Pyrokinesis isn't it?

"Unfortunately, due to certain circumstances, Hades-sama cannot stop this conflict himself. We have also received orders prior to put the lives of the capital's citizens as our top priority, so it will be difficult for me to move as well." Father-in-law looks down in anger, his position is preventing him from taking direct action. I can sense the huge dismay in his face, it isn't always easy being in a powerful position.

"Don't worry, Father," I state, "I will definitely rescue Lilicia-chan and kick Disturb in the nuts whilst I'm at it." No, wait a second, doing so would contaminate my beautiful foot. "I take that back, I'll slice his nuts off." This way I don't have to touch him.

"Thanks my boy, I'll provide as much support as I can." Father pats my shoulder when suddenly...

"Beep beep beep!" A loud alarm rings out.

"What's that!?" I shout when suddenly a huge image of a man I saw just a second ago appears in the sky. It's Cock!

"Good evening ladies and gentleman, boy and girls." He greets with a smile, "It appears that your leader hasn't come to his senses of giving back what is rightfully mine. Therefore, as promised, your lives are forfeited. Squirm in fear at the might of the Crusader!"

Suddenly the image changes to that of a fleet of four huge flying ships. "The Crusader!" Father shouts in shock, "He awakened an ancient weapon!? This is beyond what we imagined!" Father opens up a communication line to someone who looks like a scientist. "Where is the current location of the Crusader, how long till it reaches the Capital!?"

"Sir, we're locating it somewhere in the Dark Plains, at its current speed it will be in shooting range of the capital in three hours!" Father is shocked at the report, Cock must have gotten himself one dangerous weapon. "Begin evacuation of the Capital, pass along all our information to the Cerberus family and request them to aid the efforts. Prepare countermeasures to stall the Crusader for as long as possible. Every second counts, get to work!"

"Yes, Sir!" The scientist salutes and the line closes. "To think he went this far, I underestimated him," Father-in-law states, "No, that's not it. Cocytus isn't capable of something like this, he's had help?" Father says to himself as he suddenly hits his fist into his hand, "I see, so that's the way it is. That's why Hades-sama had to leave at such a time!" What is it that he's figured out.

"Yuichi-kun, my apologies, it looks like I will be needing your help sooner than I thought." Father states, you needn't worry, from the very start I was set on helping you. "Yuichi-kun, Alicia, Wolfy, Kuro-kun, you will stop the Crusader for good." We will? Those four ships, I'm worried. "Don't worry, Yuichi-kun. It's not like I don't have a plan. Kuro-kun, go and prepare the two Dual-Cores, they will be required!"

"Yes, Master!" Kuro-san runs off somewhere.

"But Father, how do you expect us to stop that weapon?" Alicia asks.

"Don't you know that all things with a hard shell have a weak inside?" Father smiles. "Go get ready, My presence will be required in the Capital. Annetta, please look after our territory."

"Leave it to me," Mother replies. Father's quick thinking in such a crisis, as expected of one of the few people I look up to. I should do my best as well.

As Father begins to walk off in a quick pace, I hurriedly catch up to him and make sure no one is listening in. "Father, I have a question, or maybe a request." I state.

"What is it?"

I can't fall a second time so I'll do everything to ensure that I don't.

It was during the first year in middle school. My first official meeting with the boy who has since been my best friend.

I run down the corridor and return to my classroom after popping out for a brief moment. As I wander back to my seat I notice my two oranges and banana placed in a certain formation. I turn my face to my new classmates "Who was it that put my fruit in such a suggestive pose?" I ask as I gaze back at the banana that is pointing to the ceiling with an orange either side of it.

At my question thirty odd fingers point to a single boy with brown hair, Yuichi Shiro. The boy looks left then right at his opposition before pointing his finger at a random person, "He did." He says in a confident voice that makes him look more pitiful than anything else. Its thirty to one so I have my answer as I sigh. The last spectacle of pitifulness destroyed all my previous anger.

For some reason after that the two of us got along surprisingly well, even if I ask myself how we became friends I wouldn't be able to give a logical answer. It just happened.

XXXXXXXXXXX

I feel my heavy eyes slowly open as I take in my surroundings through the capsule I'm in. Elizabeth, Reno, and Sakura are all looking in at me.

"How are you feeling, Ren-sama?" Elizabeth asks as I gaze at my new arm, I open and close my fist to get the feeling.

"Much better, it feels like I'm whole again." I reply.

"Nii-san," Sakura calls me from the other end, she looks stressed. "Sempai was attacked." She states. What, Yuichi was?

The three quickly fill me in regarding the assault on Yuichi and Alicia-san, the kidnapping of Lilicia-san, and the coup within the Thanatos. I can't believe so much has happened in so little time.

"Elizabeth, can you let me out of here? I'm feeling much better now." I ask, Elizabeth nods and walks to the capsule. After pressing a few buttons the liquid I'm in drains away and the door opens. I step onto the ground with my bare feet. Reno throws me a robe, I'm only wearing clothes on the lower half of my body. I quickly put it on.

"Knowing what is happening, Ren-nii, what do you want to do?" Reno asks.

"If I said I wished to assist in the rescue of Lilicia-san, would you stop me?" I ask the brother and sister in front of me.

"Nii-san?" Sakura looks worried, it can't be helped though, sometimes I just have to do these things.

"We've received a request for help in handling the Crusader from Alexander-sama. Father said that he is going to the Capital, and that we're free to do as we please." Elizabeth explains, "If Ren-sama wishes to help, then I too will lend my assistance. I can't let Alicia and Yuichi Shiro take all the credit." I'm glad to see your heart's in the right place, sort of.

"I too will..." Sakura begins.

"Stay put!" I stop her, it's way too dangerous for a non-combatant to get involved.

"But Sempai will..." She tries again.

"Will only be burdened if you marched into the danger zone." I forcefully finish her sentence with my own interpretation. "Yuichi is strong, he'll be fine. Staying in the safe zone and welcoming the heroes back when they return is the role of the maiden Sakura. Just trust me on this."

"But what if Sempai, or you, or anyone else..."

"Have some faith in your brother, and the boy you've liked for so long will you?" I pat Sakura's head in an attempt to console her, she still seems upset, but she nods.

"Then shall we go, Ren-sama?" Elizabeth asks, and I nod.

"Sorry to be a third wheel, but I'll have you take me along." Reno interjects, "I'm worried about Lilicia and the triplets as well. And I think you'll need all the firepower you can get."

"Thanks, Reno." I say gratefully as I walk past Sakura to the exit. Reno and Elizabeth follow me close behind as Sakura stays still, almost as if she's praying.

"Definitely come back safely you three!" She shouts without turning around I raise an arm whilst still pacing onwards.

"This'll be the perfect time to test out my new arm," I smile as I look at my arm glowing with glyphs made up of the three primary colours.

"So lets go over this one more time." Alicia's voice comes through my earpiece.

I'm riding in one of the two Dual-Cores with Wolfy. Alicia and Kuro-san are in the other. I'm glad that I finally get the chance to sit in the pilot seat this time.

The Dual-Cores are similar to Tri-Capsules apart from there being only two capsules compared to the Tri-Capsule's three.

"The Crusader is made up of a fleet of four ships. The flagship which we have codenamed Alpha can control the other three, Beta, Gamma, and Delta remotely. By default Beta, Gamma, and Delta remain in a triangle formation around Alpha."

"Alicia, when we codenamed them, why did we skip epsilon and go straight to delta?" I ask.

"..."

"..."

Everyone's silent, I guess they don't understand this absurdity any more than I do.

"Your genius strikes again, Yuichi." Huh? What does my genius have to do with stating the obvious, Ren?

"Moving on," Alicia continues, "Crusader Alpha is protected by a barrier generated externally through Beta, Gamma, and Delta. So the first thing we need to do is disable this barrier."

"Each ship will have a main generator, if we can shut them all down the Crusader will lose its firepower." Kuro-san supplements.

"Between us and the Cerberus we must take over the three sub ships. Once we have gained control of them we shall use the cards Father gave us to invoke that technique. Finally, we will capture Alpha."

"In addition, if we find Lilicia-sama we will take her into protective custody." Kuro-san adds.

"I really love the way you make it sound easy." I say sarcastically. But I don't like it how saving Lilicia-chan seems to be optional. She's my main objective, destroying the Crusader is secondary.

"It's not easy, in fact, it would be more unusual if we were to succeed. But we must." Alicia responds.

"I know, I've got one scum bag to throw into an asylum and one to circumcise." Disturb, Cock, I swear on my beauty, your days are numbered.

"We will definitely succeed, Master." Wolfy encourages.

Yes, I've got my pair of pliers ready for the cutting.

Thousands of lights of various colours are shooting through the sky, are those...

"We've arrived, we'll have a visual of the Crusader shortly," Kuro-san reports. And no sooner does a fleet of four ships come into view along with several Tri-Capsules and Dual-Cores.

The shooting lasers illuminate the sky like disco lights. Forcefields block all the beams shot at the Crusader.

*Boom!* A Dual-Core is shot out the sky and explodes. Lives flickered out in an instant. This is a true battle.

The Dual-Cores and Tri-Capsules fly in from every angle blasting their lasers at every opportunity. However against the Crusader's defence their actions are meaningless. And the Crusader is continuously shooting its own lasers and missiles.

One of the Crusaders starts gathering an immense amount of dark coloured energy and fires it at a group of Tri-Capsules. The dark energy continues on through the horizon but the ones caught by the ball don't have a single trace remaining.

"What a terrifying weapon," I whisper to myself. If this thing started firing on a city, it would be well beyond a tragedy.

We have to stop it, no matter what!

"Yuichi, Alicia-san," Ren's voice comes through my earpiece.

"Ren, you're here?" I call back, "Long time no see." Well it hasn't actually been that long, but who cares?

"The Capital is in danger, of course we the noble Cerberus will take action," Elizabeth states. Still as haughty as ever.

"Tch, how are we meant to board the Crusaders with all this mayhem." I ask as I dodge another attack, and create a silver wall to block another.

*Beep beep* A transmission?

I put it through, "Hello, you've reached the great Yuichi Shiro, if you're a beautiful girl and desire a night of passion, please approach me in person."

"No, Sir. I am fourth commander of Tartarus Thanatos-sama's Airforce. We have been requested to aid you in your mission, Yuichi Shiro-sama." A strong voice replies. I see, Father must have requested them.

"We shall attack the shields at these coordinates, this will temporarily create a hole just big enough for you to slip through." I see.

The many fleets of Dual-Cores and Tri-Capsules suddenly form three big units taking aim at Beta, Gamma, and Delta.

"Yuichi, Wolfy, you two take Beta. Kuro-san and I will take Delta, which leaves." Alicia orders.

"Wait Reno, what are you doing!?" Elizabeth's voice shouts in shock. When suddenly a stray capsule flies to the other end of the battlefield. "RENNNNOOO!" Elizabeth's voice screams as the capsule dodges the many lasers by mere inches.

The capsule attaches itself onto Alicia's Dual-Core turning it into a Tri-Capsule. "What is the meaning of this, Reno!" Elizabeth yells with a croaky voice. Reno essentially made her run a marathon through a minefield.

"Ren-nii and I will be enough to handle Gamma. So help with Delta, Onee-sama." Reno chuckles slightly at his sister's fright. Ren, I think your brother-in-law is a natural sadist.

"I'll get you back for this, Reno! And if Ren-sama gets so much as a scratch then I'll..."

"Are you all ready? Once we break the barrier you will have only seconds to get through." The Commander states. We move towards our respective targets and camouflage ourselves with the crowd.

"Everyone, fire in T minus five seconds, four, three, two, one, FIRE!" A huge blitz of lasers shoot and intersect at the same point. Seeing this makes me feel like I'm starring in a sci-fi movie. Well my beautiful acting career can wait until after this conflict is over.

Beta's barrier blocks the initial attack but the barrage doesn't let up and slowly a crack appears in the barrier.

"Everyone, cease fire!" The commander orders, "Go Yuichi-sama, we entrust our master to you!" Thank you Commander, with everyone's feelings resting on my shoulders I accelerate the Dual-Core to its maximum speed.

The barrier is quickly regenerating, I need to get through. I grit my teeth as I entrust our fate to the Dual-Core's speed, "MAKE IT!" I scream as the Dual-Core breaches the barrier a mere second before it fixed itself.

The lasers concentrate their aims onto me. I dodge left and right through the bullet hell as we edge towards the ship.

Another immense orb of dark energy forms and shoots towards us. I harshly steer aside and create several layers to try and slow it down for even a moment. The orb penetrates through my silver but we manage to get out of its way.

"I think that took a few years off my lifespan." I say as I speed towards the ship before another attack comes.

"Don't worry, Master. Compared to dying here, a few year is nothing." True enough.

*Boom!* I blast a hole at the edge of the ship with our on-board lasers and break into the ship.

Several beam shoot at us from within, we can't dodge them.

"Emergency evacuation!" I punch the button. Our capsules eject us from the bottom and Wolfy and I safely land on the ground before our Dual-Core explodes, that was too close.

A large group of Reapers enter with scythes at the ready. This is going to be a non stop course of action!

"Kill the intruders!" One shouts as several different elemental projectiles are shot at us. I create two silver swords and slice apart all that would hit us with swift reflexes. Wolfy launches his own fireball scattering the enemies and breaking their formation.

"Lets go, Wolfy, the true battle begins now!" I shout as I run towards our opposition.

"Yes, Master." Wolfy runs at my side, like the capable sidekick he is.

I won't let those scum bags have the last laugh.

XXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 47B: Infiltrate The Crusader – Invaded (Perspective: None)

"What's going on, Disturb?" Cocytus approaches his son, whom is staring at some kind of radar.

"We've been invaded, Pops." He replies. "Three ships snuck past our barriers and forced their way into the sub-ships."

"Who are they?"

"The next generations for the other two families."

"I see, they're awfully underestimating us."

"All the sub-ships have at least one of my Hex Class defending them. The parasites that broke in shall be exterminated shortly." A smile surfaces on Disturb's face. "It's a shame I won't be able to kill the one's who contaminated my lover's mind personally, but oh well."

"Disturb, I can't allow any delays. Have the Hex Class guard the generators, our enemies are definitely aiming for them."

The loud noises from the exchange of lasers litters the atmosphere, but I don't care about any of it.

"Yuichi-niisama, Onee-sama." Ever since Disturb abducted me I've been unable to stop my tears. Nii-sama was badly wounded, is he all right?

Because of me two of my most important people nearly died. And the only thing I could do was shake in fear. And now I'm completely powerless.

I touch the black collar that was forced onto me by Disturb. Its power seals all of my Reaper Techniques and with my scythe confiscated I have no hope.

But that no longer matters, I've given up on myself. I will only be a chain around everyone's necks at this point. With the threat posed by the Crusader I know the Underworld can't waste their resources trying to save a single girl.

And this is a girl who's lips have already been defiled. A tear falls down my cheek. Would Nii-sama still accept this dirtied girl? I know he wouldn't throw me away, but would he still look at me with the same kind eyes? Just thinking about Nii-sama brings out a certain feeling within me, and with it a single desire.

I'm walking down the corridor towards the area where the Pandemonium girl is being kept. After that last confrontation I've been feeling worse and worse about myself. The times when Disturb turns me into that monster, I always remember. My hands soaking in blood, the lives snuffed out for trivial reasons. All for the sake of one deranged psycho.

After mincing our initial opposition, Wolfy and I are running down a long hallway. I don't know if we're going the right direction or not, but we can't just sit idly. I tried to gain answers out of some of the Reapers we beat, but it was useless, no matter what they wouldn't talk. So we're on our own.

"There they are!" Another small group of Reapers block our way. However, these Reapers aren't holding scythes, but guns.

"Tch, Wolfy stay behind me!" I shout as I create a wall of silver, blocking the incoming bullet storm.

"Master, I've picked up something I think you should know about!" Wolfy states as the bullets relentlessly collide with my silver wall.

"What is it!?"

"I've picked up Lilicia-sama's scent! She's with someone else and is still a fair distance from us though!" Seriously!? We've tracked her sooner than I thought.

"Who's she with!?"

"I don't know, it isn't a scent I'm familiar with. But, it's like a human, who has bathed in a beast's blood."

I don't understand that description, but we now at least have a destination in mind.

"So these guys can get the fuck out of the way!" I create numerous silver javelins and launch them whilst still maintaining the silver wall.

"""URRGGHH!""" Several screams yelp.

I release the silver wall and gaze at the scene. Most of the enemies are lying down in puddles of blood. Sorry, but if your not my friend, then you're my enemy. I won't have mercy on those who block my way.

"Damn you, Monster!" A few of the surviving Reapers fire their automatic guns. It pisses me off that they call me a monster when they serve such scum. I quickly create a shield made out of silver about the same size as me and block the bullets.

"ARRGGHHH!" I let out a battle cry as I charge headlong through the hail storm of bullets with only my shield. The constant impact and recoil from blocking the bullets flows through my body, but I ignore the sensation and continue forward.

"URGHHH!" I close the gap and smack one of the Reapers on the head with my shield. He falls to the floor and I grab his gun.

"""URGHHH!""" Whilst still using my shield as cover I release a storm of bullets and soon the corridor returns to silence. I discard the empty gun.

"That was very well done, Master." Wolfy compliments.

"Killing isn't something I enjoy, but I'm not a na´ve saint either." This is a battle, lives will be lost. My desire is to force all loss on to the enemies however. I won't allow any of my friends to come to harm.

"Lead the way to Lilicia-chan, Wolfy!" I order as I look away from the bloody scene.

"Yes, Master."

I'm coming, so stay safe, Lilicia-chan.

XXXXXXXXX

Chapter 48B: Battle Against The Hex Begins – Two Ojous And A Vassal (Perspective: Alicia)

"Curses, why am I paired with you, Alicia!?" Elizabeth moans. "Right now I should be by my darlings side." She's gone totally dere over Ren, but she's still so condensing to me.

I sigh as I glare at my pesky rival "It's not like I want to be with you either, so quit complaining."

"Now now, the Underworld is in a dire pinch. Can we save the cat fight for another time." Kuro-san states.

"Who's having a cat fight!?" Elizabeth yells, she only looks pathetic by denying it, so why did she bother? "Are the Pandemonium vassals blind?"

Kuro-san simply takes the insult like a man and continues to try and pacify her.

We continue down the hall when I realise something strange. "Why have we faced minimal resistance?" I ask. There was only a single wave of Reapers that attacked when we blasted into the Crusader, that can't be all they have here.

"It is definitely strange. So keep you eyes open for any traps." Kuro-san states. Elizabeth and I nod as we continue down the white hallway.

We eventually come across a large door which stands out among all the others.

"I'm going to take a guess that we're suppose to go through here." Kuro-san states. The door seems to be almost inviting us.

Kuro-san brandishes his scythe and breaks the door wide open. Inside is a large spacious area with a huge amount of machinery. The area is clouded in darkness, so I can't make everything out, but I think we hit the jackpot.

"We found the power generator." I smile as we walk through the broken door. And when we do, another door shoots down sealing our way out. "Tch!"

The room suddenly lights up and I see something floating inside a glass tank that appears to be connected to the generator.

"I heard they were taken prisoner, so this is why they didn't kill them." I gaze at the restrained girl hovering inside the container.

"URGGHHHAAAAA!" Screams of agony echo throughout the ship as Reno disintegrates the enemies without batting an eye. My little brother-in-law is one person I definitely wouldn't want as an enemy.

"URGGHHH!" Another scream yells out as I stab Hinoken into a Reaper's body and burn him from within. Jeez, when did I start to become so cruel!?

"Trash has to be disposed of Ren-nii," Reno states almost as if he read my mind. Did my face look that agonised?

"Their numbers are increasing, we must be heading in the right direction." Reno deduces.

"But I still haven't had the chance to use my latest weapon." I state as I gaze at my arm.

"That power is too good for these small fries, it isn't something you can use continuously so save it for the greater foes." Reno explains as he burns another enemy without slowing down his brisk walk.

We reach a large door that stands out way too much. Reno releases a huge stream of fire from his body that melts the metal door.

We walk into the large dark room as two figures walk towards us. Light engulfs the wide space as the figures become visible.

"The younger Cerberus and the Human Anomaly marrying into the Cerberus. How artistic!" Shouts the first figure, a man with ginger hair and a paint smeared apron. He smiles widely as his arms open wide.

"The power of those flames that melted the door. I'm so envious, I want it!" Declares the second figure, a young man dressed like a jester with semi long purple hair, sleepy eyes, and pure white face paint.

"It looks like these aren't like those small fries, that ginger one fits the description of the man who faced Yuichi Shiro to a standstill." Reno explains. Which means these two are definitely dangerous.

"Ahh- That was such an artistic conflict. And now I get the chance to face the other man joining the three families. I'm sure the inspiration will give birth to a masterpiece." What's with this guy? He creeps me out.

I then notice something from behind the two men. "Reno, in that container!" I point my finger, Reno follows with his eyes, that ignite in anger when he sees what's inside. The flames intensify and surround his body.

"You've angered me..." Reno glares at the two, "Ren-nii, the ginger is yours, we have details of his power, and you can test that out. The clown's mine, I won't rest until I release my frustrations on someone!" I feel the pure malice from Reno's voice, I give a confirming nod. I heard this guy put my best friend into bad shape, so I'm going to pulverise him.

"The flames have grown even stronger, I'm even more envious." The man dressed as a jester states. "Then Reno Cerberus-sama, I, the number four of the Hex Class, Kaiser Crave, shall be your opponent."

Reno and the jester, Kaiser, charge at one another I feel a huge air tremor as their fists collide.

I return my gaze to my prey.

"Then let us begin as well. I'm number six of the Hex Class, Van. Ren Kirei, grant my artistic soul its inspiration."

"I'll grant it destruction instead!" I scream as I shoot a wave of flames at Van.

As I'm looking at the girl hovering in the capsule. *Clap clap clap!* A silhouette walks casually out of the shadows.

The scarlet haired girl smiles. "It looks like I'll get the pleasure of killing off a pesky Cerberus." The smile broadens, "Today will definitely be a day to remember."

"Priscilla..." Elizabeth mutters the name of the deadly Reaper before us.

The girl of the Orthrus family spins her scythe in a circular motion as she gazes in hatred at Elizabeth.

"So, this is the reason why we met no resistance," Kuro-san explains, "Priscilla desires to fight against Elizabeth-sama herself."

"Of course, the Cerberus have always been an eyesore. How could I pass up an opportunity to exterminate one with my own hands?" Priscilla coldly explains.

However, I've got something else I wish to know. "Priscilla, what is the meaning of this!?" I point to the capsule.

"Can't you tell by just looking?" Her voice is one of annoyance, "We're using the Thanatos triplets as an energy source for the Sub-Crusaders." As I thought.

"Disturb-sama and Cocytus-sama are probably elated at their personal revenge against the main branch of Thanatos. As someone from a family denied their rightful claim because of another myself, it's something I can understand. The main branch of Thanatos who loves the Underworld more than anyone, being reduced to batteries for a weapon that will bring about its destruction. HA HA HA! How ironic!"

"I knew this from the beginning, but there is no reasoning with you, Elizabeth-sama, Alicia-sama, we must bring her down."

Priscilla smiles, "Taking you on three to one will probably be too difficult. Fortunately Disturb-sama, granted me some capable helpers." Priscilla's smile broadens further as three obsidian coloured wolves walk out of a split dimension that Priscilla made.

The blood lust in their eyes reminds me of someone. The wolves snarl menacingly at us as Priscilla strokes one of their heads.

"Meet Lycan #349, #517, and #781. Alicia, I believe you met #13, correct? These children were born from the same Project Lycan as our Hex Classes' number three." Priscilla states haughtily, the eyes in the wolves are the same as that Lycan girl I faced before. So that's why.

"Project Lycan?" I ask.

"A project that was secretly run by the branch family of Thanatos. The aim of it was to create human weapons by fusing the souls of certain Soul Anomalies with that of a humans. Well, the project could probably be said to have been a huge failure. Out of the one thousand humans used, only about ten percent survived. And of those ten percent only #13 and #666 were able to retain any of their ego. The rest became something like these children. Well, despite being failures, they're still plenty strong." Priscilla explains indifferently.

"They were conducting human experiments!?" I ask angrily. Elizabeth and Kuro-san too are glaring at Priscilla. Just how far have Cocytus and Disturb fallen? No, compared to what they have done, this is nothing surprising.

"#349, #517, #781, this will be a ladies only dance, understand?" Priscilla states to the Lycans.

They howl ferociously before charging towards us. I bring out my new upgraded scythe and prepare to attack the wolves, as does Elizabeth. However, we strike nothing but thin air as the Lycans dodge our attack and charge straight for Kuro-san.

They brandish their claws and fangs as Kuro-san dodges their swift attacks one after another. "Tch!" I charge to back up my family's retainer. But suddenly a stream of fire crosses my path forcing me to jump back.

I glare at the culprit as she smiles, "I said didn't I? This will be a ladies only dance. Now, Elizabeth Cerberus, Alicia Pandemonium, the number five of the Hex Class, Priscilla Orthrus, shall be your opponent." She challenges, "Try not to turn to ashes too soon."

XXXXXXXXX

Chapter 48E: Battle Against The Hex Begins – Connection Of The Reaper And The Wolf (Perspective: Lilicia)

"So then, Lycan-san was born from a human experiment?" I ask solemnly as we sneak down the hall.

"Yes, I don't remember much from when my soul was human. But I was taken along with many others and subjected to many atrocities. The meaning for my existence was forcefully changed to that of a life stock, for someone else's desires. I lost my humanity, my place, and even my name." Lycan-san states as she grinds her teeth.

"Your name?"

"I cannot remember it. I was simply labelled thirteen, which has stuck with me ever since." She sadly explains.

How cruel. She had everything taken from her and for what? How could they do something like this? How can anyone do anything like this?

Disturb's smiling face appears in the back of my mind. Despite everything he's done, he can still smile. The thought of how he smiles as another suffers forces me to bite my lip so hard it bleeds. The lips soiled by that cruel man, I'll wash them with my own blood.

"Please calm down, Lilicia-san." Lycan-san interjects, "I'm thankful for your feelings, but blood is what brings the monster out of me."

"What do you mean?"

"It's by ingesting blood that I become that cold killing monster. I can maintain my sanity under most other circumstances, but..." I see, I wipe the blood off my mouth.

"Your betraying our master, Lycan?" A voice comes from behind as a rip in space appears and out comes a young man who is dressed like some kind of ancient warlord, with armour adorning his body. His dark hair is tied back into a long ponytail, a katana is held in each hand, and his eyes are like a hawks.

Lycan-san grits her teeth at the man. "This is the worst case scenario I felt could happen." Worst case?

"It was the right decision to keep an eye on you," The man states, "Abducting the lady who is betrothed to our master, I won't allow you to transgress any further, Lycan #13." The man enters into a stance with his two swords. And what nonsense is he speaking of betrothed to his master? I don't recall Yuichi-niisama having such a man in his posse, and I will accept none other, especially not Disturb.

"Lycan-san, who is this man?" I ask, feeling Lycan-san's tension.

"Disturb's right hand man, and the number one of the Hex Class, Owari Fool."

In other words, he's the strongest amongst the Hex Class, stronger than Lycan-san? So this is the worst case scenario.

"Prepare yourself!" He shouts as he charges towards us with lightning speed.

"Stay back, Lilicia-san," I shout as Owari and I charge towards each other.

I feint my run and flank him from the side. However my swift claw suddenly feels like I'm pushing it through dense water. Owari swiftly dodges my slow attack and slices at me with one of his katanas. I grab my attacking arm with my other arm, pull it back and jump back to safety.

"For a fighter like you, my power is the worst possible match up." Owari states confidently.

"That Energy Absorption trait is truly a pain." I state back. That's right, that's why my hand suddenly slowed down whilst I was attacking him. He was draining the momentum in my claw's kinetic energy.

"As you are a Hex Class, Lycan, you should know that isn't all I can do." Owari smiles and suddenly disappears.

"URGHH!" I yelp in pain, Owari's katana is lodged into my leg. He released so much kinetic energy and moved so quickly that even I couldn't react.

"LYCAN-SAN!" Lilicia-san's scream is enough to distract my attention from the blood coming out of my thigh. I can't let myself become that monster.

"You do know that Kinetic is not the only energy I have control over, don't you?"

"URGGHHHAA!" I scream as Owari releases electric energy through his katana.

But now is my chance. I grit my teeth and bare the pain as I slash Owari with my claws. Owari shows a shocked expression, but quickly jumps back.

I miss his vitals but my claw slashes his shoulder and fresh blood pours out, Owari doesn't seem concerned about it though. I use the pain in my thigh to distract my senses and stop myself from becoming that monster.

I pull the katana out my thigh and charge, using my speed I attack him from behind. However I feel no resistance when my claw slashes his neck. An illusion.

Using my other senses I feel a presence behind me. I quickly turn round.

"I told you, kinetic isn't the only form of energy I control." He used light energy to create a mirage of himself. Owari slashes at me with his sword. I side step with quick movement and slash with my claws, "GRRRRAAHHHHH!" Owari suddenly screeches before my attack can connect.

""URGGGHHHHHH!"" Lilicia-san and I scream in agony as the horrible noise reverberates. For me who has super hearing that sudden loud noise was very effective. I jump back whilst holding down my wolf ears. Blood trickles out from them, the horrible sound ruptured my wolf ears.

"Kinetic, Thermal, Light, Electric, Magnetic, Sound, and even Nuclear. I can absorb, convert, and release all these different forms of energy." His screech before was a usage of Sound Energy. Being able to use such a variety of abilities makes him difficult to fight against.

"Energy Conversion?" Lilicia-san says from the distance as her body shakes. She understands just how frightening of an ability it truly is. A completely different type of power from me.

"However, Lycan, even though due to its nature I've had to seal away nuclear for this fight," Owari stares at his bleeding shoulder, "To think that you were able to wound me. As I thought, your rank as the number three may come more from the fact that you can't be controlled." Like I care, I was never in the Hex Class because I wanted to be.

"However, I've played with you long enough. Bind Thirteen." What! The restraining collar I'm wearing suddenly changes colour and my entire body loses all of its strength. He could have bound me any time he wanted. From the very beginning he was just toying with me. I never had any hope to start with.

"Lycan-san!" Lilicia-san shouts, but my body can't move. Damn it.

"One way or another, victory would certainly have been mine, this just speeds up the inevitable." Owari smiles as he brandishes his katana, "Now you receive the death suitable for a traitor. Die!" The blade edges to my neck when.

"Lilicia-chan!" Another voice emerges. Owari's blade stops prematurely. I turn to its source, standing there with a white dog at his side is Yuichi Shiro.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 49B: Lycan #13 – The Meaning Behind The Wolf's Tears

After running for god knows how long we've finally found Lilicia-chan. But what's going on? Who is that about to kill Lycan?

"Yuichi-niisama!" Lilicia-chan cries, don't worry, now that we're here everything will be fine.

"Change of plans," The man says, "You can make yourself useful, Lycan." He states as he draws a small knife from his pocket and stabs his hand. Just what kind of sick masochist is this guy? He puts his mouth to his hand and drinks the blood and then grabs Lycan, forcing her to look at him.

"No! Nii-sama, please stop him!" Lilicia-chan shouts. I don't know what's going on, but I create a silver javelin and launch it at the guy. But before it connects my silver suddenly loses its power and falls to the ground.

"What the hell!?" I scream in shock. "What did he do!?"

"Such an attack is worthless, Yuichi Shiro." The man smiles confidently as he forces his lips onto the wounded Lycan. Shit what's with all the sexual harassers I've been meeting recently.

"Damn!" I create and launch another javelin. But the attack falls powerlessly to the ground again.

"Calm yourself, Master. You're just wasting your energy. I don't understand the reason but he must have some sort of barrier."

"He's absorbing the kinetic energy," Lilicia-chan shouts, "That man can absorb, convert, and utilise different forms of energy." She explains.

"Uhh, Wolfy, what does kinetic mean?" I ask.

"Movement, Master. He stole all the energy being used to launch the silver, that's why it fell to the floor. That is one nasty power he has. And it may not be limited to just kinetic."

Is now really the time for admiration?

"Lycan-san!" Lilicia-chan's scream draws my attention to the wolf girl, who's eyes lose their life and are replaced by something much more ferocious.

I shoot another javelin at the man but the result doesn't change. Does this mean he simply can't be harmed in any way?

The man releases Lycan, "Unbind Thirteen." He says. Lycan's collar changes colour and she glares at Wolfy and I with menacing eyes. But I notice something out of place.

Knowing I can't hit the man, I create a silver chain and throw it more skilfully than any cowboy to Lilicia-chan, but the man moves in the way and grabs the chain himself.

"URGHHH!" I scream as I feel a jolt of electricity run through my body. I instinctively disperse the silver chain and fall to my knees.

"NII-SAMA!" Lilicia-chan screams.

"MASTER!" Wolfy shouts, I turn around to see Lycan charging, her claws ready to slash. Due to suddenly being electrocuted I can't dodge, and I can't manifest my silver quick enough to guard the attack.

"GRAAAHH!" Luckily Wolfy is a lot more alert than me and rams her with his body. She stumbles but remains on her feet.

"Sorry, Wolfy." I state as I create my Silver Sword and get back to my feet.

"I leave them to you, Lycan." The man states as his and Lilicia-chan's body begins to turn transparent.

"Master, we need to concentrate on the enemy before us. We will definitely save Lilicia-sama. Remember, even though you may slip a few times, you will always receive the best ending to any situation. That's what makes Master, Master."

"You're right, Wolfy. It's not like they're going to kill her. By the end of the day I'll definitely save her, or else I'm not Yuichi Shiro, beauty incarnate." I declare with renewed determination as I stare at our opponent.

Lilicia-chan's last words, please save Lycan. And those tears, there is definitely more to this girl.

"Wolfy what do you think?"

"That wound on her leg was caused by that man's blade. Judging by her scent she is the one who was accompanying Lilicia-sama. I don't understand the reason, but she was definitely trying to help before."

"Understood, Master." I enter a stance with my Silver Sword. As Lycan glares at us like a beast ready to pounce.

"Silver bullet!" I shoot several small pieces of silver aiming for Lycan's legs, but she dodges with swift movement despite her wound.

Wolfy shoots a fireball, but Lycan tears it in half straight down the centre and charges at Wolfy.

"Wolfy get back!" I shout as I manifest a wall of silver in front of him. Lycan slashes right through it but it slows her down long enough for Wolfy to escape her deadly claws. I have the remains of the wall turn into spikes and shoot at her, but she disappears from sight. I feel a presence behind me and dive to one side without turning around, a good decision on my part, as Lycan slashes where I was stood just a moment ago.

"Her speed is unfair." I remark.

"No use complaining, Master." Wolfy states as he shoots several fireballs. Lycan jumps in the air to dodge them and then kicks off the side of the wall, towards the opposite wall, and then towards me, I quickly roll backwards and avoid the incoming claw as Lycan skids across the floor.

"Silver Cube!" I call out another attack name, I should stop making a habit of this. A bunch of silver surrounds Lycan from every angle encasing her in a box, but...

*SCCRRCHH* Oh yeah, those claws. Lycan cuts a huge chunk out of the silver and escapes.

"She's not making this easy for us." How on earth did Alicia manage to face such an opponent by herself?

Several Lycans suddenly appear like she performed a clone jutsu. Damn, she's moving so fast she's leaving after images.

"ARGGHHHH" I yelp as a scraping pain in my back forces me to the floor.

"Master! URGHHHH!" Wolfy turns in shock only to meet the same fate as me. In that split second she attacked us both with almost invisible attacks.

"Gah..." I force myself back to my feet as does Wolfy.

Lycan's ferocious eyes shed more unnatural tears. Watching this for some reason really aches my heart. Her tears, they're conveying her true emotions. They increase every time she attacks. It's like her body and her will are acting in complete reverse.

"Nii-sama, she's a victim, please save Lycan-san." Lilicia-chan's words echo in my mind as I finally understand what she wanted to tell me. I don't understand everything, but what I do know is this girl before me is not fighting us right now by her own volition.

I didn't want to use a highly draining technique so soon, but unlike last time I still have a lifeline, and I'm not going to use such a vast quantity as before, therefore... "Liquid Silver." I manifest my silver in its liquid state with enough of it to fill a bathtub.

"Here I come, Lycan!" I shout as I charge in with my Silver Sword. Its time to end this. I have my liquid silver create a ring around my body.

Lycan too charges at me when suddenly she multiplies like before. Here she comes. Now if she is anything like last time then.

I turn around to notice Lycan's claw push through my Liquid Silver. Just as I thought. I don't know whether it is instinct but she has the habit of attacking her enemy's back. And she can't cut up something that isn't solid with her claws. I solidify the Liquid Silver back into a metal restraining her around her elbow joint. Lycan shows a surprised expression. Before she can process what happened I trap her other arm at the joint as well. "Gotcha." I state. Her claws maybe razor sharp but if I restrain her at the joints, she can't use them.

"Well done, Master." Wolfy congratulates as I create more silver and restrain her against the wall by her wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and neck.

"Grahhh!" The beast ravages meaninglessly against its restraints.

"Time to wake her up then." I state as I walk up to her.

"Do you have some master plan to do that?" Wolfy asks in amazement.

"That I do," I reply as I turn back to Lycan and raise one of my hands.

*Slap!* "Wake up." I order as I run my hand across her face. I don't want to be violent with girls, but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures.

"GRRRR!" The beast continues to glare at me.

*Slap!* "Wake up." I order again as I slap her other cheek with my other hand. The monster continues to snarl at me.

*Slap!* "Wake up." I reward the snarl with another slap.

"This is your great plan, Master?" Wolfy asks. Ingenious I know, but please don't break my concentration, I'm starting to get into a rhythm.

*Slap!* "Wake up." I continue.

A few minutes elapse and finally my plan produces the desired result.

"My cheeks, feel really hot." Lycan states.

"That's because you're talking with a great guy such as myself." All girls feel hot in the face in my presence.

"Or because you slapped her god knows how many times." Wolfy retorts. Well yeah, I guess that could play a SMALL part in it. But my beauty is definitely the main reason.

"Thanks, for stopping me." She begins. As I thought, that monster wasn't her true self.

"Can you tell us what happened?" I ask. Lycan nods and explains. She tells us about how she came to be, how she was trying to help Lilicia-chan, and how she was defeated by that samurai man named Owari.

I grit my teeth in anger at hearing how she was used in a human experiment. I didn't think Cock or Disturb could anger me any further, boy how na´ve I was.

"Lilicia-san has most likely been taken to the main Crusader where Disturb is." Lycan explains

"In that case our destination has been decided." I state as I begin walking.

"Wait, Master. We still need to take care of the power in this Crusader if we want to get to the Alpha Crusader." Wolfy instantly throws cold water on my plan, "And also..." Wolfy remains silent for a moment, "One of our orders was the capture or death of the Hex Class members. Even if she was being used."

"Wolfy!"

"I'm not saying this because I want to, Master." Wolfy grits his teeth, he's just as upset as me.

"It's fine," Lycan states, "I've lost count of all the horrendous things I've done. Spending my life in prison will be a paradise compared to being Disturb's killing machine."

At hearing her words I reach for the black collar and sadly stare at it. This is a device that sends the one wearing it to a prison kept in another dimension. "Put it on me," Lycan further urges. "I won't be of any use going with you. The other Hex Classes can likely activate the restraining collar just like Owari, so I'd only be dead weight at this point."

Lycan nods at me with a small smile. I wrap the dark leather around her neck, fasten the buckle, and connect the padlock.

A dark shadow begins to encompass Lycan's body, further restraining her. As her body begins to fade, "Lilicia-san desires a hero, you. Make sure you become her knight in shining armour, Yuichi Shiro." Lycan smiles somewhat bitterly as her existence disappears from this plain.

"You don't have to tell me that, what other reason do you think I came here for." I stand tall and manifest my Silver Sword to show my determination, "Lets go, Wolfy."

And Lycan, don't get too comfortable in that prison. I don't plan on leaving you there for long.

My fist collides with Kaisers. I throw my other fist covered with flames only for my wrist to be grabbed before I can land a hit.

"I'm truly envious." The clown smiles as he taps the heel of his foot, revealing a concealed knife in his shoe. With both my hands too busy I parry his kick with my leg forcing his knife away.

Kaiser uses his other foot and pushes off of my body and performs an acrobatic back flip whilst creating some distance. What a show off.

Kaiser throws several concealed knives as he cartwheels further away. I create a wall of fire about an inch thick that disintegrates the daggers on contact.

"It seems you're every bit of a genius as the rumours say." Kaiser remarks.

"I won't fall victim to some pathetic underhanded tricks." I state back as I swing a colossal stream of fire extending out of my arm. Kaiser jumps off the ground and somehow hangs upside down from the ceiling. I redirect my aim as Kaiser runs along the ceiling like it's a floor all the while throwing knives at me. But none reach me as I use my other arm to create walls of flames to defend myself.

"Have you not worked out that those things won't work?" I ask.

"Of course, I just want to see more of your flames." He replies with a smile.

"Then see them burn you to nothingness!" I shout. I create a huge column of fire to separate us from Ren-nii's battlefield, this technique isn't meant to be used with friendlies nearby. "Magma Maelstrom!" I create a huge twister of flames in the centre of our battlefield.

"To have such a dangerous technique, I'm truly envious!" He screams as the maelstrom slowly pulls him in with the wind pressure created from the intense heat. "My soul is one of envy. Jealous, avaricious, and desiring. Crave everything that I don't possess. And sate my greed by owning all." Soul ID Lyrics? This is where it's going to get complicated.

A huge block of ice rams into my maelstrom and the two attacks cancel each other out. I glare at the clown who is wearing a confident smile.

"Now, allow me to show you the power of everything that I've desired." He states as I gather flames into my fists, readying myself for round two.

The three Lycans have formed a triangle around Kuro-san. "Awooo!" They howl in sync when I notice all of them disappear along with Kuro-san.

"What the?" I remark, this sensation, I'm sure of it.

"Reaper Technique: Coliseum." Priscilla states, "The Lycans have been taught to use it." Wolves taught to use Reaper Techniques, they sure made some horrible creatures.

With Kuro-san and the Lycans gone it's just the three of us, I'm worried about Kuro-san but Priscilla is definitely not an opponent I can fight with mixed thoughts.

I spin my scythe and point the blade. "No choice, you've fallen to the level of a mere terrorist. I'll reap you, Priscilla."

"And you wonder why Cerberus was chosen? It's because you're like this! You don't look at what you already have, but what you don't, nothing short of a spoilt brat." Elizabeth too challenges with her scythe. But that spoilt brat comment goes for you too I think. "Did you just think something rude just now?" Elizabeth turns to me, I shake my head, now isn't the time for infighting.

"How you insult me?" Priscilla shakes, "I shall show you the consequences of your insolence!" Priscilla charges at us as her scythe engulfs itself in flames. Her eyes glow the same colour as her hair.

*Ching!* Elizabeth blocks the swing as I flank to the side and shoot a ball of electricity. Priscilla pushes off of Elizabeth's scythe and propels herself over her with a somersault.

"ARGGHHHHH!" Elizabeth screams as Priscilla kicks her from behind into the path of my attack.

"Your coordination can use some work," Priscilla remarks as she shoots a fireball from her extended hand. Elizabeth is quick to react and rolls out the way. I charge at Priscilla to give Elizabeth time to recover.

Priscilla ducks below my slash and slides her leg along the ground like a top. "SHIT! URGHHH!" The attack at my feet causes me to lose my footing and she slams the stick of her scythe into my stomach sending me skidding across the room.

Elizabeth launches a fireball which Priscilla intercepts with one of her own, the two attacks cancelling one another out as the streams of flames increase the room temperature by several degrees. I quickly get myself back onto my feet and charge at Priscilla again, Elizabeth follows my lead. Priscilla launches several fireballs at us both but we dodge whilst limiting unnecessary movements. I shoot another electric ball which is countered by a fireball. She creates a wave of fire, I jump over it but she launches more fireballs to attack me whilst I'm airborne. Fortunately Elizabeth cancels them out with her own fireballs, with an affirming nod of gratitude. I charge and slice at Priscilla, but when she is about to block it with her flaming scythe I have my scythe change shape the instant our weapons are about to make contact. Priscilla wears an extremely shocked expression. I quickly have my scythe reform its natural shape mid swing.

"GAHHH!" Priscilla jumps back at the last second but my attack still cuts her flesh on one side of her body.

"What just happened?" Priscilla stares at me in shock. Elizabeth also has a confused gaze. "What did you do?"

"My last scythe broke when I fought against that Lycan girl. So I had this one made in replacement, by Yuichi." I answer.

"Yuichi Shiro?" Priscilla states in confusion as she gazes at my scythe, "Silver." She remarks.

"Correct, this scythe is made from my fiancÚ's Silver Manifestation. A scythe made from unlocked silver."

"Unlocked Silver?"

"It's just the silver within this scythe, but that silver, has been unlocked for me to manipulate. For example," I swing my scythe and fragments of silver come off, "Silver Bullet!" I shoot the several fragments of silver at Priscilla who dodges the attack with nimble movements. I then retrieve the fragments to reform my scythe. "Yuichi's ability isn't just for him now." I state as Priscilla gets back to her feet with a smile, her confidence not diminished in the slightest.

"It's time for me to get serious as well then," she states as flames cover her entire body, "The power granted to Orthrus is absolute! Kneel before my fire!"

XXXXXXXXX

Chapter 50C: Battles Underway – The Master And Pet's Next Challenge

Wolfy and I continue down the hall until we finally reach a huge door. We didn't encounter any more opposition. We must have cleared them all out before. "I'm guessing this is it." I state as I push open the door to reveal a huge room with a inconspicuous huge glass container thingy. But what shocks me is what is floating around inside of it.

"ROSE!" I scream dramatically to the restrained girl within the container. Wolfy runs to my side and is standing ready. An old man with a walking stick casually walks in front of us and smiles.

"Actually, this one is Tsubaki-sama." He states.

"TSUBAKI!" I scream dramatically again, this time with the correct name.

"You already lost the chance when you did it before, Master." Damn, my debut dramatic moment of calling out to a friend in danger was completely ruined. This is what I hate about twins and triplets.

"Regardless, hand over Rose, I mean Tsubaki and shut this thing down and no one gets hurt." I point my silver sword at the old man.

"Ki he he he," The old man chuckles horribly, that was sickening. "Don't act so conceited boy. This old man's bones still have plenty of fight left in them."

""GUUUHHH!"" Wolfy and I yelp as for some reason an unknown force pulls our bodies down to the ground.

"But then again, I don't even need to move to fight. I am Isaac, the number two of the Hex Class. I'll show you that the elderly will never lose to any whipper snappers."

I grind my teeth in annoyance as the old man straightens his back. His presence changing from a decrepit old man to a intimidating warrior.

"Damn, I've been seperated from Alicia-sama and Elizabeth-sama!" I spit out my annoyance. I wasn't expecting these things to be able to use a Reaper Technique, that caught me completely off guard.

One of the Lycans charges and slashes at me, I jump to one side, another shoots a fireball from its mouth I slice the attack down the centre and split it in half. The third one tries and bites into my leg from behind.

"UROGGHH!" But I kick it in the jaw before it can. I shoot a barrage of ice but the Lycans move left and right swiftly dodging all my attacks. One of the Lycans suddenly disappears I quickly feel a presence behind me and trusting my instincts jump into the air to safety.

Another Lycan then tries to slash at me whilst I'm in the air. I create a block of ice at my feet to create a foot hole and jump back to safety, avoiding the claw by mere inches.

"Fighting three of these things at once isn't going to be easy." I sigh in resignation, but I can't mess around here for long, those two will most likely need my help. "Come at me from anywhere." I taunt as I ready my scythe to cleave off some heads.

XXXXXXXX

Chapter 50E: Battles Underway – Ren Vs Van I (Perspective: Ren)

Our arena has been seperated from Reno's by a huge wall of flames, so it's just me and Van this side. *Ching Ching!* Our swords collide as neither of us gain any ground. I shoot a fireball from Hinoken but Van throws a picture board and out comes a huge quantity of water that blocks my attack.

"How artistic, both you and Yuichi Shiro are perfect inspiration for my art." Van pulls out a gun from his picture board and points it at me. Before he can pull the trigger I release a huge amount of flames in front of my body. *Bang bang bang!* None of the bullets make it through my makeshift wall.

I swing Hinoken relentlessly and release multiple waves of fire. *Bang bang* Van dodges my attack whilst still unloading his clip. Not wanting to lose my fire power on defence, I activate one of my new arm's powers. "Protection!" Several glyphs run across my arm and Van's bullets are stopped in their tracks by the forcefield I erected. Noticing his attacks aren't working, Van gives up on offence and focuses on dodging my attacks. I release the shield so I can refocus all my power back to Hinoken.

I launch a stream of flames at Van, who dodges the attack and throws several picture boards at the ground. They flash brightly and then standing there, wielding two blades each is...

"Yuichi?" No, they're not.

"Amazing, aren't they? I don't do too many portraits but that last battle really inspired me. Such is the nature of my artistic art." The four Yuichi clones each remain silent and brandish their respective silver swords. This doesn't look too good.

"Go my Yuichi Shiros!" The four Yuichi clones run at me together on Van's orders, I gather flames from Hinoken and send them at my best friend's imposters. They each dodge the attack, one slices at me with one of his blades *Ching!* I deflect the attack and push him back before he can strike again. A second reshapes his silver sword into a javelin and throws it at me. I twist my body and avoid it.

"URGGGHHH!" I yelp as the third slashes me across my back. That javelin was just a distraction. I send a wave of fire to force him to jump back. They don't have any of the original's great power, but they do outnumber me.

"You must be happy, Ren Kirei, to die by the hands of your best friend." Don't be ridiculous. Yuichi would be insulted if you called these fakes him.

Even if they have his appearance they're nothing more than dolls pulled into reality from paintings.

I suddenly feel a wave of irritation looking at the four imposters imitating my best friend like some sideshow act.

"Your little imposters don't have anything in them that makes them truly like Yuichi. Tell me, do you think Yuichi is made up just by his appearance? Although he likes to flaunt it around, that is just one aspect of who he is. I'm going to show your so called art for the crappy counterfeit it truly is!" I state as I gather my strength and point my blade challengingly at Van.

"You harmed my best friend before, and now your using his image to try and beat me. If these dolls cannot replicate Yuichi's 'genius' then they cannot be called Yuichi Shiro! Your art will not disgrace my friend any longer!"

Inside the Alpha Crusader, Cocytus has gone elsewhere to handle the issue of the intruders. The only ones present were Disturb and Lilicia, who was delivered by Owari. Lilicia was restrained to a chair with Disturb standing in front.

"I'm sorry about Lycan, my dear," He began, "I thought I trained her well, to think she would try and kidnap you. Normally I would punish her severely, but it appears the man who infected you has caught her."

"..." Lilicia just glared in anger at the man before her. Normally his very presence caused her to shake in fear, and she was still afraid. But her anger towards Disturb, and the relief of seeing her precious Nii-sama were enough to evade her usual fright.

"If only I was able to control #666 I would never have needed #13." Disturb states.

"..." Lilicia remains silent.

"Why the silent treatment, my dear?" Disturb asks, tilting his head, "I can quite understand you were frightened before, but you're safe here." Disturb runs his hand across Lilicia's cheek, who tried to escape his touch with what limited freedom she had. "I promise, I won't let anything else harm you." His words were sincere. Sincere, but distorted.

"I've already given up on making you understand." She finally said, "Now that I know Yuichi-niisama is here, I know I won't have to. The boy desired by two Pandemoniums, do you think your subordinates can hope to beat him?"

"What?" Lilicia was shocked, Disturb was hoping for his Hex Class to be defeated.

"Each member of my Hex Class are exceptional fighters. However, other than Owari, I can hardly say they're irreplaceable. In order for my princess to be cured of her disease, the hero must slay the infection in front of her eyes. That's why Owari didn't fight Yuichi Shiro himself, oh, but that's a secret from Pops, he'd start lecturing if he knew this." Disturb smiles pleasantly as Lilicia regains her fear of the terrible existence standing in front of her.

Several screens appear in the air depicting the many fights taking place on all the Crusaders.

"Now, lets just hope the infection can make its way here so we can cure you with the best possible remedy." Disturb states with a thin anticipating smile.

The intense flames surrounding Priscilla start to gather at her back and take the form of three sets of wings.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, enemies to nothingness." Priscilla's wings beat, lifting her body into the air.

Shit, if she can fly then we'll be at a huge disadvantage. I charge towards Priscilla with Elizabeth.

Priscilla shoots a fireball from her hand, I dodge the attack "URGHH!" until the fireball expands and catches my arm.

"Alicia get back!" Elizabeth screams as she grabs me and dives to the floor a mere second before a huge column of fire would have incinerated me.

Priscilla beats her wings further and stabilises about fifteen metres in the air. "Damn it..." I curse as a javelin of flames shoots towards us, we both dive to the side, when I notice another column of fire about to sprout I jump back just in time to avoid the attack, but it changes its trajectory and arcs over towards me again. I dodge once again, but then several hands of fire sprout out of the column, I wield my silver scythe and cleave at them before jumping away and making some distance.

"Can't do a lot can you?" Priscilla taunts.

"Silver Bullet!" I shoot several projectiles from my scythe, but Priscilla just slides through the sky and avoids them.

Elizabeth shoots her fireballs but Priscilla simply swats them aside with her wings. Then she forms a huge fireball of her own, the size is completely different from any previous. "Disintegrating Comet!" She shouts as the huge fireball speeds towards the ground.

"Elizabeth!" I shout as we run to one another's side. With one look into each others eyes we both know what we must do. ""Ice Barrier!"" We both scream as multiple Frisbee shaped ice shields line up one behind the other.

*Crack Crack Crack!* Our shields shatter one after another as the attack continues despite the hindrance. Neither Elizabeth or I are Ice specialists so our shields aren't as strong as they could be.

"It can't be helped I guess," Elizabeth states as flames cloak her body. Wait, what is she doing?

As our final shield shatters Elizabeth cloaked in her own flames jumps in front of the attack and pushes back on the projectile. "URGHHHHHHHAAAAAAAA!" She screams as she holds the huge flame back, her feet skid along the ground from the opposing momentum.

"Elizabeth!" I scream in horror at the reckless action. Even though she is a fire specialist herself, a fireball that size will still cause extensive damage.

There's nowhere to run, so now is the time to fight. I reshape my silver scythe into the shape of a javelin as I run my electricity through it, giving it a huge charge. Then using the momentum of my throw, my telekinetic control on the silver, and the newly added magnetic charge, I launch my silver javelin with a huge beam of lightning backing it. The colossal fireball is broken down to smaller fireballs and rain down upon the ground. Elizabeth falls to her knees from the sudden relief as the fire surrounding her dissipates. My javelin continues on its way towards its final destination.

"KYYAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Priscilla screams horribly as my javelin and lightning beam consume her right arm in the blast, blood rains down from the sky. Priscilla gazes at her missing limb in horror before redirecting a malicious gaze back to me. "I'll make you pay." She states coldly. I regather my silver and reform my scythe as Priscilla gathers flames in her left hand "GYAAAHHHH!" She used her fire to stop the blood.

After Priscilla completes her makeshift first aid, a huge number of flames rise from her wings and take the shapes of several floating orbs, they fly down into the battle area. "DIE!" Priscilla shoots a beam of fire towards me, I narrowly dodge the sudden attack.

"ALICIA!" Elizabeth suddenly screams.

"GAHHHH!" An intense pain rages my right shoulder as I'm forced to my knees, I gaze at the fire beam that had pierced me and at the glowing flame orb behind me. "Those orbs, they reflect her attacks like mirrors do light!" I have part of my scythe transform and wrap around my shoulder as a makeshift bandage to stop the blood loss. "Gah," I grind my teeth in pain at the pressure on my wound as I rise back to my feet.

"Don't think that the debt is repaid with so little, Elizabeth, Alicia!" Priscilla states as she shoots another beam of fire. Elizabeth and I dodge the beam that is reflected I dodge again but it reflects off yet another flying orb.

"You're annoying!" Elizabeth shoots a fireball at the approaching beam finally cancelling the attack. She then turns to Priscilla and shoots a fire beam of her own, but one of the orbs moves in the way and reflects it back, forcing Elizabeth to dodge her own attack.

If she's using those orbs to guard. In that case maybe we can catch her off guard.

"Elizabeth give her another shot!" I shout as I gather a lightning ball in my hand.

"What? Didn't you see what just happened!?" Elizabeth stares at me dumbfounded, I reassure her with my gaze. "Fine."

Elizabeth does as asked and shoots another fire beam at Priscilla, "Haven't you learnt your lesson the last time, it's useless!" Priscilla proclaims as an orb moves to block the attack but before it can I launch my lightning ball and neutralise the orb. As I thought, it can only repel fire. "WHAT!" Priscilla is caught unaware of the attack, she swiftly dodges with an awkward movement.

Now! I transform my scythe into a javelin again and throw it at Priscilla, she dodges the javelin but her posture is broke. Elizabeth noticing the chance jumps into the air using her flames as a jet.

"You're going down! Literally!" Elizabeth shouts, I think her finishing one liner could use some work.

"UUURGGHHHHH!" Elizabeth's burning fist smashes into Priscilla. "GUHHH!" Blood leaks out between her lips from the sudden impact with the ground. "To think you were capable of pushing me back this far." Priscilla gets back to her feet, she's tenacious. "Any more than this and I'll be nothing more than a laughing stock." Priscilla's flame wings change shape into several flaming arms. One of the flaming arms replaces her missing right and another four grow and extend out of her shoulder blades. Priscilla opens a pocket dimension and throws all her arms within, they each come out with a different weapon. In her six hands she holds a scythe in her human hand, a huge bow and arrow with two of her flaming hands, the remaining flame hands hold an axe, a sword, and a ball and chain. "This is one of my trump cards, Incinerating Asura! My flames can do a lot more than burn!"

I gaze on at the intimidating appearance of Priscilla's form. She's even stronger than we predicted.

"I grew up watching all of Reno's feats. I'm not impressed." Yes Elizabeth, but neither you or I are Reno. The fact remains that we're in trouble. "Keep throwing things at me and I'll continue to cut them down, Priscilla!" Elizabeth challenges bravely as she points her scythe at our opponent.

I sigh at Elizabeth's confidence, I can't let myself lose heart here. "Lately I've only been dead weight for all my friends, but this time I swear, we'll definitely win!"I follow Elizabeth's lead and point my silver scythe at Priscilla.

"Fools, up until now that was just the starter, time for the main course," Priscilla readies her many weapons, "Turn to ashes in bliss knowing you made me get serious."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 51B: Battles Of Fire - Ren Vs Van II (Perspective: Ren)

The four Yuichi imposters circle around me and attack together, I jump in the air to avoid being skewered. Two of the Yuichi clones transform their blades into javelins and throw them at me. Using Hinoken's flames I propel myself back to the floor avoiding the attack.

*BANG!* "URGHHHH!" I yelp in pain as I gaze at my bleeding leg.

"It isn't just them you're fighting," Van smiles as he aims his gun. *Bang bang!* I create a wall of fire in front of me. *Bang bang bang!* The bullets continue regardless.

One of the Yuichi clones flanks me to the side and slashes at me, "Protection!" I reactivate one of the my new arm's powers blocking the silver sword. Another Yuichi clone changes his blade into a javelin and throws it at me. Fighting this many is real pain in the arse. I quickly push back the Yuichi clone's sword with the protection, I then release the technique and grab that clone's wrist. Whilst still maintaining Hinoken's flame to prevent Van's bullet storm, I pull the Yuichi clone into the path of the approaching javelin, which pierces him through the heart. The clone disappears without a speck of blood coming out, well they weren't real so I'm not surprised. But that's one down.

*Bang bang!* Van continues to blast his gun. "Protection!" I switch my fire barrier for the forcefield and launch a wave of flames with Hinoken Van jumps over the attack and wielding a sword in one hand and a gun in the other he charges at me.

*Ching ching ching* Our swords collide, "Such inspiration, such intrigue, how very artistic!" Van smiles widely as our swords deadlock Van points his gun at me, *Bang!* I quickly tilt my neck to the side as the bullet rips through the air mere centimetres from my head. I release a wave of fire from Hinoken forcing Van to jump back still with a smile on his face.

One of the Yuichi clones slashes at me with their sword, I duck below the attack and before the other two clones can join the assault I shove my new hand into its abdomen. Its not really living, in that case this should work.

"Program!" I activate the second power that my arm grants to me on the Yuichi clone. Reprogram, from kill Ren Kirei to protect Ren Kirei. "That should do it." The other two remaining clones try to slash at me but my reprogrammed Yuichi clone blocks their attacks with its two silver swords.

"What did you do!? What is that arm!?" Van shouts in shock at the spectacle.

"I lost my previous arm in the fight against Enigma, so the Cerberus family created me this Alchemy Arm to replace it. And with it the three powers within are now mine, the first one being Protection, and the second being Program, which allows me to reprogram inanimate objects and various other things. You can look forward to the third power, Van, for when I use it, this fight will be over." I declare.

"Don't get so full of yourself," Van points to the disappearing Yuichi clone that was guarding me, it was two versus one so the outcome was obvious. "My art isn't so easy to defeat!" Van throws another picture and out comes a winged horse that Van quickly mounts, the deformed pony quickly takes to the sky.

*Bang bang!* Van shoots at me from the air. "Protection!" I recreate my forcefield to intercept the bullets. The Two Yuichi clones charge at me, I shoot several fireballs from Hinoken but they take evasive actions whilst still edging towards me. "Tch!" *Ching!* I block one of the blades and release my fire to force them back. I made the wrong choice guarding with Protection. I'm unable to use more than one power at a time, which means Program is sealed at the moment. And I'm not confident enough in my abilities to fight both Yuichi clones without Hinoken to defend me.

"I'm sure when I see your face filled with despair I'll be able to paint a real masterpiece, Ren Kirei!" Van taunts.

"Sorry, but that is one picture you won't be drawing. I told you, I'm going to show your art for the counterfeit it is." I refuse to fall to this deranged artist!

Chapter 52A: The One Who Dominates Gravity – Yuichi And Wolfy Vs Isaac I

Wolfy and I are currently being pulled to the ground by some unknown force.

"What is this!?" I try and fight the pull but am quickly pulled back down again.

"Ki he he he, the foolishness of youth, I simply increased the gravity around you," Isaac states. "Let the weight crush you into nothingness."

""GUHHH!"" Wolfy and I grind our teeth as the pull increases in power.

"Nothing can hold down beauty!" I shout as I manifest several silver javelins outside the pull area and launch them at Isaac. Suddenly the gravity on our bodies disappears allowing me to move as the silver javelins fall to the ground. I see. "Wolfy spread out, he can only use that technique within a certain area, we can't let ourselves both be caught in it again!"

"Yes, Master." Wolfy agrees as we each jump to opposite sides of Isaac.

"Well analysed, and after just seeing it that once, ki he he he. I see that your genius is more than a self proclamation." Isaac congratulates. Well yeah, you'd be hard pressed finding someone more awesome than me. And It'll be out right impossible to find someone more beautiful.

"Master, stop grinning and concentrate on the fight!" Wolfy shouts as he shoots a fireball, but Isaac holds out his open palm and a small dark sphere appears and absorbs the fireball before disappearing. I create and shoot more javelins but again they are pulled to the floor. I close the distance and swipe at him with my silver sword *Ching* he pulls a blade out from his walking stick and blocks. My silver sword suddenly feels as heavy as lead. He's running his power through his blade. I create a silver javelin directly over Isaac's head and drop it. Pulling down isn't going to help you here. Isaac upon noticing the javelin raises one of his hands. Suddenly my javelin flies up to and pierces the ceiling.

"I can also do the opposite you know," Isaac smiles. You won't be for long, time for a sneak attack. I create a small ball of silver directly beneath him between his legs and a moment later, "UUUUUOOOORRGGHHHH!" A horrible sound as his testicles are smacked with the silver ball. "How could..." Isaac starts as he holds the effected area in his hands. The anti gravity suddenly releases and my silver javelin starts to fall back down towards him. Despite his pain Isaac jumps back and avoids the attack.

But this is my chance, now that he's stunned. I run past Isaac and launch myself towards the generator holding Tsubaki, I pull back my fist ready to smash the glass.

"Master, WAIT!" Wolfy screams. But I continue on with the momentum until.

"URGHHHH!" My head slams into some kind of invisible wall. I slide back down and flop on the ground in pain. "What was that?" I ask as I rub my head.

"Master, this guy was obviously deployed here to protect the generator, of course it's going to have a barrier."

"What, why!?" I scream in shock, my master plan of saving Tsubaki and disabling the power is now all ruined.

"To protect it obviously, from stray shots and idiots who try to destroy it without fighting us," Isaac returns to his feet, his eyes filled with malice, "You really did it to me just now. There are just some things you don't do, and you crossed the line."

"The very moment you kidnapped Lilicia I had already threw morality out the window. I came here for blood, not honour." I retort, "Those who make any girl of mine cry loses every right to their existence!"

I launch several silver javelins, at the same time Wolfy fires several fireballs. An attack from both sides.

"WHAT!? URGHHHH!" I'm forced against the wall, as is Wolfy. My javelins are flying back at me. Shit! I forcefully disperse my silver before it can pierce me.

"URGGHHHAAA!"

"Wolfy!" I scream as he is pelted by his own fireballs. "Damn it!" The aura surrounding Isaac disappears allowing me to move, Wolfy falls to the ground from his injuries. "What the hell! Isn't your power gravity!? How can you force us any direction other than up and down!?"

"I take my previous comment back, you're no genius if you can't work such a simple thing out." Isaac sniggers, "My power allows me to increase or even reverse gravity. So a question for you, what is gravity?"

"Are you making fun of me!?" This old git, "It's the force that pulls everything down to the ground."

"So simple. Gravity technically pulls towards the world's core. But I'm also capable of turning myself into a gravitational core. So gravity can revolve around me instead of a planet."

Okay, he's completely lost me. But long story short he can force me backwards as well as up and down. Now the question is how do I beat him?

I charge at Isaac who in turn despite his age runs at me also. If I try and stop his blade dead I'll only be dragged down by his gravity *Ching!* I parry the attack to the side and the heavy blade slams into the floor. I slash at Isaac but he jumps into the air.

"Ki he he he, haven't you realised you can't win? Or do you need death to teach you the harsh reality?" Isaac taunts as he hovers in the air.

"I've lost count how many pricks have said similar lines only for me to screw them over." No matter what, the beautiful will always reign supreme.

"Death it is then," Isaac kicks off seemingly thin air and hovers directly over my head.

I create a silver javelin directly overhead that is instantly pulled down by the gravity. Isaac jumps away to safety, releasing the gravity in the process. I quickly roll away and get back to my feet. That was too close.

"Ki he he he."

I scratch the back of my head momentarily, "Well this fight certainly couldn't be going any better," I joke as I tighten my grip on my silver sword.

Kaiser smiles as I gather flames around my fists I'm going to burn him to ashes. As I charge towards him something appears that shocks me.

"Silver!?" I state in shock, six silver javelins form and fly towards me. I dive to one side avoiding the attack the silver then dissipates. Kaiser throws a knife I punch it with my flaming fist melting it to nothingness on contact. "What did you do? That was Yuichi Shiro's technique just now." How can he use it? Silver Manifestation is Yuichi Shiro's Soul Technique which is like DNA, it can't just be replicated like that.

"Why don't you work it out genius," This clown's smile is pissing me off. I shoot several fireballs in retaliation. Kaiser dodges with over the top movements like somersaults and back flips. I charge at him and attack with my burning fist but Kaiser also with a flaming fist smashes his fist into my own. "Show me more of what you've got." He taunts as he jumps off the ground and spins his outstretched legs faster than a helicopter's propeller.

"URGHHHHH!" A concealed blade in his shoe scrapes my arm as I forcefully grab his spinning leg. Kaiser pivots and attacks me with his free leg I duck my head and dodge. "URGHHHH!" But Kaiser arcs his back forward and slams his fist into my face sending me skidding along the floor. Just how flexible is this guy!?

"My envy grants me endless power!" Kaiser proclaims as eight tentacles sprout from his back. The eyes within all glare at me and flash.

"What!? That can't be possible!" All eight of Kaiser's Photon Options shoot at me at once. I don't have time to dodge so I cover myself in flames "URGHHH!" Despite my guard the lasers still pierce me but I was able to avoid serious injuries. The tentacles on Kaiser's back disappear into nothingness like they were never there to begin with.

"Photon Options is a Thanatos Reaper Technique that is unique to the blood. Why can you use it, and not only that, but that silver attack before. What are you doing!?"

Kaiser just smiles as another six silver javelins form and fly at me, I create a wall of fire to defend myself. I won't fall for the exact same trick twice. Kaiser jumps into the air and shoots several fireballs at me. Wait the way he's doing it, he's replicating me. I jump back to safety.

How's he doing it? Silver Manifestation and Photon Options if he used just one of them I would say he's got some sort of copycat power, but he's used both of them. Silver Manifestation is a Soul Technique, whilst Photon Options is a Reaper Technique. They're too vastly different for one power to cover them both. Then what is his power? Each Human Anomaly has only one Soul Technique, so just what is his?

Kaiser creates his eight Photon Options and they all quickly shoot their lasers at me together. I jump into the air and throw a colossal fireball at Kaiser, who dives to one side and throws several knives at me, I create my firewall and melt them. Wait, something isn't right.

Kaiser creates six silver javelins and launches them at me, I use my flame to push myself to one side.

Why is Kaiser always shooting the Photon Options simultaneously? If he fires them one at a time he could remain on the offensive and I would have a much more difficult time dodging them. Also, if he can create silver, why does he just keep using the javelins? Yuichi Shiro has many more lethal techniques, yet he keeps using the same one. Wait, maybe it's the opposite, it's not that he isn't, he can't.

Kaiser swings a colossal stream of fire that is extending out from his arm at me. I duck down below the attack. That's another of my techniques. I manifest a column of fire that shoots several huge fireballs into the air. "Magma Rain!"

"Such a grand technique, I'm truly envious!" Kaiser smiles as he creates a wall of fire to defend himself from the assault. Once again another of my techniques. After the rain of fire ends Kaiser creates another six silver javelins and launches them at me. Now, time to figure this out. I watch the silver carefully as I jump into the air and recall the previous instants he used this ability. As I thought. The silver hits nothing and moved exactly the same as it did every other time. So that's his power. No wonder he kept it a secret despite being such a loud guy, having it revealed would have spelled his defeat.

As I land on the ground I cannot help but smile as Kaiser unleashes his eight Photon Options. Now to test my theory. As the eight Photon Options shoot their lasers I move my feet just a few metres and then standstill. I watch the eight Photon Options hit nothing but air as my smile broadens. Now I'm sure of it.

Kaiser stares at me in shock at my lack of evasive action in the last assault. His confident smile no longer present.

"I've figured it out." Kaiser's eyes open in shock at my proclamation. "Your Soul Technique is nothing short of playing back the actions of someone else as your own. And you play them back exactly to the letter. You never had Yuichi Shiro's Silver Manifestation, your merely copying a single technique he uses with it." Kaiser steps back in disbelief, I'm on the money. His power is like copying a piece of computer code and then playing it back. But that's all, he has no way of altering the code. The silver javelins he uses, they will always have the same number sent out, and they will each always follow the exact same trajectory. The same can be said for the Photon Option's lasers, they always shoot together, and they will always fly in exactly the same directions.

"It's over, Kaiser Crave." I declare as I rush in with my blade made of fire covering my hand.

"No, I won't let it happen!" Kaiser launches the six silver javelins, remembering the trajectory from previous attacks I move into a safe zone whilst still moving onwards. Next he uses the Photon Options, I continue onwards regardless, likewise none of the lasers hit me. "This can't be..." The clown's face shows despair.

"Like a magician who had his tricks revealed, you're nothing!"

"URGHHHH!" I pierce my blade of fire through Kaiser's abdomen. "Such a sharp flame...I'm truly...envious..." When I disperse my technique Kaiser falls to the ground in a puddle of his own blood.

I quickly take out and apply the Prison Collar. When I padlock the black leather collar around Kaiser's neck a black shadow covers his entire body, which slowly disappears from this dimension.

Elizabeth and I charge at Priscilla who extends the length of all her many flame arms and swings her sword in a large arc. We both duck down, and I quickly roll to one side as Priscilla releases a stream of fire with a swing of her scythe. At the same time an arrow shoots towards Elizabeth who was trying to flank her, forcing her to jump back.

I shoot a lightning ball as Elizabeth launches a fireball only for them to be intercepted and dispersed by the axe and sword respectively.

Priscilla closes the distance between us in an instant and before I am consciously aware I swing my scythe *Ching* it collides with Priscilla's sword. *Ching* Elizabeth's scythe deflects the axe.

*Ching ching ching ching* The harsh scrapes of our colliding weapons release bright spark as I give up on the idea of trying to process what is happening and allow my instincts to take control. Priscilla swings both her scythe and sword at me simultaneously, I side step towards the scythe *Ching ching!* and redirect its trajectory into the oncoming sword deflecting both attacks in one move like a domino effect. Elizabeth having found an opening in the axe's attack shoots another fireball at Priscilla.

"Don't get cocky," She exclaims as she temporarily releases her scythe and shoots two branching pillars of flames which consumes Elizabeth's fireball like it was nothing.

""URGHHHH!"" Both Elizabeth and I guarded the attack by striking the flame pillars with our own fireballs the colliding attacks minimised the damage we both received but we were still sent flying back through the air with the heavy impact.

We both quickly get to our feet as Priscilla charges towards us with her many weapons. I dodge the swipe of her sword. *Ching!* I deflect the swing of her scythe but suddenly "URGHHH!" I'm kicked in the gut and forced back again "URGHHHA!" But not far enough for the chain segment of the ball and chain to tighten around my waist, momentarily stopping my breath with the harsh restration.

Priscilla smiles as with great strength my body is forced off the ground and hurled through the air. Priscilla aims her arrow at my airborne body. Curses! I quickly change the shape of the silver into a small shield, I don't have the quantity of silver to make a big one *Ching!* I place the silver shield in front of my heart and as luck would have it that was her aim.

"Tch!" Priscilla grunts as she tries to lodge another arrow.

"Silver Bullet!" I alter the shape and shoot several fragments of silver. I'm not letting you shoot me a second time.

Priscilla jumps back to dodge my attack and tries to reattach the ball and chain around my waist I begin to regather the silver but it won't make it in time. A fireball suddenly slams into the ball and alters its trajectory, I land safely on the ground and give Elizabeth an acknowledging nod.

"Hm, this is going way beyond being a pain." Priscilla remarks as she swings her sword and axe simultaneously, Elizabeth jumps back but I charge forward.

"Alicia!" Elizabeth shouts at my reckless action.

"We can't just defend forever!" I call back as I slide underneath the attacks of the sword and axe.

The ball and chain tries to bludgeon me, but I roll to the side and swiftly jump to my feet. I quickly change the silver back into the shape of a shield *Ching* noticing the trajectory from the aim I block the arrow and continue onwards. I switch the shield back to a scythe now that it has done its job. Priscilla swings her final weapon, the scythe in her real hand, as I swing my own scythe I alter the shape mid swing. "I won't fall for that again!" Priscilla proclaims as she stops her swing and tries to jump backwards, but I throw my silver into the air freeing my hand that I swiftly use to grab Priscilla's wrist. "What!" She exclaims as I stop her jump with a harsh pull. At the same time the silver reshapes itself into two blades and I use my control of them to slice through Priscilla's fire arms at the root of her back.

Priscilla wears a shocked expression as her weapons fall to the ground. Whilst still holding her wrist with my right hand, I gather electricity into the fist of my left and. "URGHHHHH!" Slam it directly into her face sending her skidding harshly along the floor. A few silent moments elapse as I try to catch my breath when I hear a ghastly voice.

"Ha ha ha ha," Priscilla's sprawled out body chuckles as it remains on the ground, "HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" The sudden outburst forces me to take a step back as Priscilla returns to her feet, her eyes are wide open and her smile is wide and thin. "And here I thought that you two were nothing but a useless Carrisa wannabe, and a disposable princess who can't hold a candle to her brother. You are both full of surprises, I never imagined until today that I would have so much difficulty killing you both. HA HA HA HA HA!"

Despite wanting to take another step back at the change of Priscilla's tone I stand firm, the words she said, I can't let them slide. "I have always admired Carrisa that's true, but that never meant I ever abandoned who I truly am. I never wished to become her, not then, not now. I merely have one desire...To surpass her!" I state as I take a powerful step forward.

"Reno has always been better than me, there's no denying this. There were even several people who tried to convince or pressure my Father to disown me from the Cerberus family so Reno would become the next Head." This is the first time I'm hearing anything about this. To think that the girl who is always so haughty had gone through such things. "Fortunately for me, Reno silenced such opinions by declaring that if my father lost his eldest daughter, he would in turn lose his eldest son. Neither my father nor my brother are so cold hearted as to go through with such things. I may feel pathetic and inferior from time to time, but neither they, nor I, have ever considered me disposable!" Elizabeth also takes a powerful step forward.

"HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" Priscilla laughs at our declarations, "Then allow me to show you both the respect you deserve. A reward for accomplishing so much." Just surrendering would be rewarding enough, but it looks like she's got something else up her sleeve. Why can't life ever be easy?

Fire begins to surround Priscilla's entire body the intense heat hovers her high into the air as she slowly disappears into her flames. "This power is still in the trial period, I'm planning on developing it into something equivalent to the three Grimoires. You two have gained the honour of being its beta testing opponents." A power equal to the Grimoires!? Whilst I'm shocked at Priscilla's declaration the flames further expand hiding her body within its intense heat. The flames slowly form into shape. Standing at the size of a skyscraper two legs, multiple long arms, a thick wide body, and a head that's shaped like a dragons. The burning colossal giant straightens its knees and stands at its full height.

"She developed a technique that can rival the three families' Grimoires," Elizabeth says as sweat rolls down her face. We both take a step back from the huge monster.

This is seriously bad, I never imagined she would be this strong.

XXXXXXX

Chapter 53B:Overcome The Asura - Ren Vs Van III (Perspective: Ren)

*Bang bang bang!* Van shoots his gun from the safety of the flying horse. I guard against the bullets using protection. As a Yuichi clone tries to strike me, I disengage protection and jump out of the way.

I swing Hinoken and release a stream of fire, the Yuichi clones sidestep the attack and continue charging. *Bang bang!* I dive out the way of the bullet storm. Attacks from both the sky and ground are making it difficult to fight back. *Ching* I block one of the clone's swords with Hinoken but when I try to move my Alchemy Arm towards the Yuichi clone I notice Van aiming his gun *Bang!* "Protection!" I manifest my forcefield and stop the attack. He's not going to let me simply reprogram them. The second Yuichi clone charges forth at me from behind. No choice, sink or swim.

I deflect the first Yuichi clone's blade to one side and throw Hinoken high into the air behind me. With swift movement I grab the first Yuichi clone's wrist with my now free hand. *Bang bang bang!* I continue using Protection to defend against the bullet storm. I pull the first Yuichi clone into the running path of the second the collision stopping them both momentarily. I charge towards the defenceless clones whilst maintaining the protection. I catch the falling Hinoken mid fall and switch off the protection and activate Hinoken's flames to stop the bullet onslaught. I catch both the clone's shoulders with my outstretched Alchemy Arm. "Program!" Reprogram, from kill Ren Kirei to kill Van.

The two clones jump into the air and try and slash at their new nemesis and his noble steed. "Art turning on an artist, such a contradiction cannot exist!" The two Yuichi clones both disappear into nothingness. Well, at least it's now just me and him. I give up on the useless Yuichi copies.

*Bang bang!* "Protection!" I reactivate my barrier once again and swing Hinoken to unleash a stream of fire at the flying horse, which dodges it in turn. I unleash numerous flame waves forcing Van onto the defensive allowing me to release the protection. I press my Alchemy Arm against the Crusader's floor. "Program!" A chunk of the ground below me separates from the floor and hovers with me on top of it.

Ascend I order the ground and I am taken to the same height as the horse and Van. "What on earth!?" Van is shocked at the scene and probably can't work out what I'm doing. Move forward. *Bang bang!* Front end of ground curve upwards. The ground I'm on changes shape creating a steep hill at the end that blocks the bullets. Continue forwards. "Just what the hell are you!?" *Bang Bang!* Van continues his worthless effort whilst trying to get an angle for his shot, but I simply move to prevent him whilst still gaining ground on him. "Damn you!" When I get so close Van throws his hand into one of his paintings and draws out a sword, he's realised his gun is now useless. In three seconds break apart and fly straight ahead. I program the floor's last order as I straighten my back and stand tall.

Ignoring the bullet wound I received from Van earlier I take a run up and jump from the floor towards the horse. The horse opens its mouth and releases a ball of wind at me. "Protection!" I guard as I continue towards Van.

"DIE!" Van tries to skewer me with his long sword *Ching!* I guard with Hinoken and then grab his blade with my Alchemy Arm.

"Program!" Break apart!

"WHAT!" Van screams in astonishment as his sword crumbles. The horse tries to fly away and avoid me but the floor pelts it with a storm of debris like I previously ordered it, forcing the horse in place.

I grab Van by the neck and force him off the falling horse "This is the end, Van!" I declare as we both fall to the ground.

"No! My art shall survive for eternity!" He screams through the suffocation.

"But you however, shall not!" I tighten my grip as I activate the third power of my Alchemy Arm. "Petrification!" I scream as Van's face turns to despair. His flesh changes colour from his neck and spreads out to his head, body, arms, and legs. I brace the fall as we land, and I stand the new Van made completely of stone upright. "How ironic, the artist, became a piece of art." I remark as I gaze at the statue that shall forever hold that expression of despair.

Soon the firewall separating me from Reno disappears and Reno walks over to me. "Nicely done, it looks like you've gotten a good grasp of your Alchemy Arm." He congratulates as he gazes at the Van statue.

"Not that I'm complaining, but these powers are pretty damn haxed." I state as I gaze at my arm.

"We spared no expense that you got the best, Ren-nii." Reno replies, "Anyway we should do what we came here for and shut down this generator, and get her out of there whilst we're at it.

Reno and I walk and stand before the container after pressing a few buttons here and there the glass door moves to one side and all the lights of the machines disappear, the generator has been switched off. We remove the restraints and get the girl out and lay her gently on the floor.

Reno smiles in relief and holds the girl against him in a delicate embrace a single tear escapes his eye. "It's nothing Lily, don't worry about it." The girl doesn't seem to comprehend the reason but she returns Reno's embrace by wrapping her arms weakly around him.

"Now we just have to wait for the others to finish on their end before we can move onto the next stage of the plan." I state, somewhat hating myself for disrupting their mood.

"Yes, they shall pay for their sins with their blood." Reno replies as he lays Lily gently back down to the floor. Reno's anger has only increased from before his battle with Kaiser.

Elizabeth, Yuichi, Alicia-san, Kuro-san, Wolfy. I know you won't let us down. We shall take this fight to the scumbags that started it all.